3 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders joint practice with NY Jets

Loser No. 1

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - Commanders CB

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was looking to redeem himself after a rookie campaign to forget. Previous head coach and primary decision-maker Ron Rivera became infatuated with the undersized yet athletic cornerback during his pre-draft assessments. This also ensured the No. 16 overall selection last year got responsibilities he wasn't ready for.

Everyone turned the page quickly on this catastrophe. Forbes reportedly put on 17 pounds this offseason and was starting to build some genuine momentum under the tutelage of Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. All this came crashing to a halt during the Washington Commanders' joint practice against the New York Jets.

Forbes locked horns almost constantly with Garrett Wilson, one of the league's best wide receivers who could enter the elite category with perennial NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center in 2024. The former Mississippi State was overwhelmed almost from start to finish.

Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for Forbes. He conceded two touchdowns to Wilson. The Ohio State product juked him after collecting another deep shot and also burned the defensive back over the middle to rub further salt into his wounds. Frustrations boiled over towards the end of practice, which resulted in the second-year pro trading punches with running back Breece Hall.

If Forbes wasn't good enough, that's fine. Wilson's going to give better cornerbacks than him the run-around in 2024. However, his lack of discipline and perceived unacceptable effort on occasions were far more concerning.

Giving up on plays is a disgrace. Forbes was accused of that, which won't go unnoticed by the coaching staff. Any confidence the 2023 first-round pick accumulated throughout the summer evaporated in the blink of an eye. This was his first big challenge versus competition other than teammates and he failed to deliver.

Forbes must show resolve and bounce back during his preseason involvement or the Commanders will find someone who can. Things won't get any easier during his next joint practice versus the Miami Dolphins, with the likes of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill licking their chops at the prospect of going up against him.