Things weren't exactly promising for Marshon Lattimore's participation in Week 11 from a long way out. The cornerback didn't take part in practice as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. It came as no surprise to see the Washington Commanders rule him out at the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football.
Lattimore was acquired via trade from the New Orleans Saints before the deadline to shut down one side of the field and compete against the opposition's best-receiving threat. Taking their time with his rehabilitation should serve them well down the stretch. That won't help the Commanders in their eagerly-anticipated divisional showdown, which puts the onus squarely on others to step up and fill the void.
One player is coming under the microscope more than most.
Commanders CB Benjamin St-Juste must respond positively in Week 11
Benjamin St-Juste once again came under fire after Washington's narrow loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. His lack of discipline or poor technique continues to give up frustrating penalties. Playing so far off wide receiver Mike Williams and letting him blow past untouched for the game-winning touchdown was inexcusable.
St-Juste revealed he dislocated a finger during the game, which wasn't ideal. The reaction from fans on social media was over the top. However, this continued an ongoing trend for the Minnesota product of failing to produce when the stakes are highest.
The former third-round selection is giving up 62.9 percent of his targets and has conceded 564 receiving yards through 10 games. St-Juste's 113.9 passer rating given up when targeted is a career-high. His production, or lack thereof, is one of the big reasons why general manager Adam Peters changed gears and traded for Lattimore.
This indifferent form won't go unnoticed by the Eagles during their strategizing for the contest. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have been a constant thorn in Washington's side over recent encounters. The Commanders look outmatched versus the prolific wide receiver duo, so defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. must find ways to restrict their influence while also keeping a close eye on running back Saquon Barkley at all times.
It's a complex riddle the Commanders must solve effectively. St-Juste is going to be targeted early and often. How he performs will go a long way to determining the overall outcome.
Washington did a great job of overcoming defensive deficiencies earlier in the campaign. They had no trouble turning games into shootouts and relying on their high-octane offense to get them through. That sufficed for a time, but a more complete effort is needed to hang with the NFL's elite.
St-Juste needs to bounce back. This might be his last game as the team's No. 1 cornerback. He must respond accordingly.
Anything less will see more questions about his long-term future with the franchise. St-Juste is in the final year of his rookie deal with no new contract talks on the horizon. The next seven games represent an audition - a chance to alter the narratives and prove he can be part of this team's future.
Putting in a strong performance on Thursday Night Football is a good place to start. Whether St-Juste can accomplish this or not is another matter.
