Marshon Lattimore's bombshell trade to the Washington Commanders hasn't gone according to plan. And now, it seems as if the veteran cornerback may have played his last snap with the franchise.
Lattimore went out of Washington's prime-time game against the Seattle Seahawks with a knee injury. Fans were anxiously awaiting further information, but his dejected demeanor on the sidelines suggested it was serious. Teammates were consoling him, and he cut a sad figure walking to the locker room with a towel over his head.
As it turned out, these fears were realized.
Marshon Lattimore tore his ACL in Commanders' loss to the Seahawks
According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, Lattimore tore his ACL. That inevitably places him on season-ending injured reserve, and he could be missing for a lot longer than that.
While an ACL injury isn't the career-ending complication it once was, it's still significant. Lattimore faces a grueling road to recovery, and although unfortunate, this only strengthens the chances of general manager Adam Peters cutting ties with the four-time Pro Bowler next spring.
This was a likelihood even before the injury. Lattimore's performances have been subpar. The shutdown corner Washington thought it was getting after striking a deal with the New Orleans Saints was long gone. A hamstring injury hindered his ability to make an immediate impact last year, but the fact that he was actively targeted as a weak link with great success quickly became an ongoing frustration.
The NFL is a ruthless business. Peters will do what's best for the team. No trade suitor is going to come forward for Lattimore now. And considering it would cost no dead money, coupled with $18.5 million in savings by releasing the defensive back with one year remaining on his deal, makes this decision relatively straightforward from the outside looking in.
This further decimates a secondary that has fallen way below expectations in 2025. It was projected to be an area of strength, but it's been the complete opposite. Lattimore gained more criticism than most, but he is not the only one to blame. And we're about to see how integral he potentially was to Joe Whitt Jr.'s schematic concepts over the second half of 2025.
That leaves the Commanders with just Trey Amos, Mike Sainristil, Jonathan Jones, Noah Igbinoghene, and Antonio Hamilton Sr. Not exactly a star-studded cast, and it's not like Washington's safeties are good enough to paper over the cracks, either.
As for Lattimore? He'll focus on what he can control — his recovery and health. But his time in Washington is likely done.