Commanders must take drastic action after Emmanuel Forbes' latest horror show

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. came into the offseason under immense pressure. The Washington Commanders gave the cornerback another opportunity to prove himself under more accomplished coaches. There were signs of life, but the former first-round pick reverted to type during a joint practice with the New York Jets.

This was an absolute horror show performance-wise from Forbes according to those in attendance. His coverage was abysmal and the Mississippi State product lost his cool. Considering how head coach Dan Quinn preached the importance of discipline, this isn't going to go down well.

The Commanders gave Forbes a tough challenge in the pouring rain. Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. placed him opposite Garrett Wilson throughout. This is in keeping with what we've seen at camp as the No. 16 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft locked horns constantly against Pro Bowl wideout Terry McLaurin.

Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. blows big chance to shine at joint practice

To say Forbes fluffed his lines would be an understatement. He was burned almost constantly by Wilson. The one-time Ohio State stud caught two touchdowns versus the corner. He grabbed another deep shot and gained an extra 10 yards with an eye-catching juke. If that wasn't enough, his diving catch from a low delivery was also on the second-year pro's watch.

Unsurprisingly, this was enough for Forbes' frustrations to boil over. He was spotted throwing punches late in practice to cap off a disastrous day at the office. Something that's given Quinn and Whitt plenty to ponder with a few short weeks remaining until their Week 1 opener at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Perhaps more concerning was a report from Lynne Willingham of 106.7 The Fan, who noticed that Forbes gave up on a play rather than trying to recover. That lack of effort is nothing short of damning.

There were a couple of nice moments, including a pass breakup covering Wilson. However, this was a significant dent in his hopes of bouncing back next season.

It might even lead the Commanders into drastic action.

Forbes discouraging production and lackluster effort means the Commanders have some thinking to do. Michael Davis and Benjamin St-Juste are the two projected outside coverage starters. Bringing in another dependable veteran represents a wise course of action. Washington has enough salary-cap space to make a move, so it's a realistic scenario all things considered.

Stephon Gilmore is still sitting on the market. He worked with Quinn and Whitt last season with the Dallas Cowboys, making the transition into the scheme potentially seamless. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is firmly in his career twilight, but he's still got some good football left looking at his efforts overall in 2023.

Regardless of whether the Commanders bring in reinforcements or not, this performance is a devastating blow to Forbes. Wilson is one of the best young wideouts around. But previous decision-maker Ron Rivera drafted the college ballhawk to be a shutdown presence capable of locking down one side of the field.

That seems a million miles off right now. The Commanders cannot afford Forbes to become a weak link once again. They invested heavily in the player, but the cord must be cut some time.

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