Marshon Lattimore's blunt message proves Commanders CB is ready for war

Marshon Lattimore is off the injury report and ready to resume his rivalry with wide receiver Mike Evans. If the cornerback comes out on top, the Washington Commanders' chances of winning their Wild Card contest at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers improve exponentially.

Lattimore hasn't made much of an impact since joining the Commanders via trade from the New Orleans Saints. He's featured just twice thanks to a frustrating hamstring issue. There was no way the four-time Pro Bowler was going to miss the opportunity to lock horns with Evans once again.

There is deep-rooted hate between the two. They are two alpha dogs who don't back down an inch. There will be aggression, physicality, and potential after-the-whistle incidents. Keeping composed in the playoff pressure cooker is essential from Lattimore's point of view.

It's all systems go for Lattimore despite the Commanders giving him a rest day to end their preparations on Friday. His assignment is clear — the former first-round pick out of Ohio State will be looking for Evans immediately and shadowing him throughout the contest.

Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore is ready to renew Mike Evans rivalry

The significance of this matchup isn't lost on Lattimore. He knows the challenge that lies ahead and what could unfold. But it's a test he's going to relish in pursuit of doing his part to help the Commanders reach the divisional round.

"It's just another game. Go out there and help my team. Really I'm just trying to lock him down, all the other stuff... it is what it is. If it come, it come. If it don't, I'll be just trying to help my team win. I wanna be physical just for the simple fact of what happened, of course. I wanna be physical with anybody. There's an extra level of it just because of that past and all that, but it ain't really about the physical game — you're gonna know I'm here, you know what I'm saying? That's all. The best versus the best. That's what I look forward to."

Marshon Lattimore

Lattimore is an elite performer at the peak of his powers. He's not going to be 100 percent, but the defensive back will give it everything he's got. More importantly, he's got proven credentials against Evans and knows how to get under his skin.

Evans admitted earlier this season that he hasn't done a good job of controlling his emotions against Lattimore. The wideout's been suspended twice for incidents versus the shutdown coverage presence. He'll make some plays, but keeping them to a minimum is an attainable objective with a strong start.

All eyes will be on this clash. Lattimore knows it. Evans will also be acutely aware. Both sets of players will be backing up their teammates when things inevitably get heated. It's a heavyweight battle worthy of the Sunday Night Football primetime stage.

This is why the Commanders made a bold move for Lattimore. It's also the type of environment where he normally thrives. Whether it's Evans, A.J. Brown, or anyone else for that matter, he wants all the smoke.

It's been a long time since the Commanders had a cornerback like that.

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