Tag: CB Emmanuel Forbes

Commanders release CB Emmanuel Forbes

Emmanuel Forbes is gone.

As expected,, the Commanders have made a couple of roster moves, two of which involve big names.

The Commanders released cornerback Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, determining to cut the cord now and move on from him despite his being a first-round draft selection just one year ago.

The Commanders have given Forbes every chance they can. But he simply hasn’t made any impact whatsoever. He doesn’t even contribute on special teams. So, Adam Peters and Dan Quinn have decided to do what they feel is best for the team and the overall roster.

Secondly, the Commanders placed RB Austin Ekeler on injured reserve. Suffering his second concussion this season, the Commanders apparently feel they should give Ekeler at least the four weeks with no contact and then see if he is ready to proceed further.

Thirdly, after K Austin Seibert was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week, the Commanders elevated K Zane Gonzalez from the practice squad. The move was expected, as Gonzalez has performed well this season.

Finally, with Forbes released, the Commanders elevated DT Carl Davis off the practice squad.

It is amazing to think that just one year ago, Ron Rivera was filmed driving on his way to the Ashburn team facility. On the video, Rivera is seen and heard proclaiming he wants to draft Forbes that night.

When it was time for the 16th selection, Rivera and the Commanders chose Forbes to be their guy. He struggled all of 2023. This season, the Commanders wanted to have Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste starting as outside corners, but that never developed for the team.

On Friday, the Commanders declared CB Marshon Lattimore doubtful for Sunday vs. Tennessee. Lattimore came to Washington in a trade with the New Orleans Saints. He has missed all three of his games since the trade. In addition, the Commanders have lost all three of those games to the Steelers, Eagles, and Cowboys, respectively.

On Friday, the Commanders distinguished between RT Andrew Wylie and RB Austin Ekeler, who are both recovering from concussions, and ruled them out of Sunday’s game against the Titans.

NFL analyst says Commanders should bench Benjamin St-Juste

NFL analyst weighs in on Washington’s cornerbacks once Marshon Lattimore is healthy.

What changes will the Commanders make in the lineup when Marshon Lattimore begins to play again?

Lattimore is currently recovering from an injured hamstring. He has returned to individual sideline work but has yet to be full-speed with the team in practice.

The Commanders began this 2024 season with Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes as the outside corners, and rookie Mike Sainristil held down the slot corner role.

Sainristil has been forced outside due to Forbes’ lack of development. The rookie from Michigan has continued to make progress playing outside. There is enough progress in the mind of one NFL analyst, who expressed his opinion Wednesday.

Mark Bullock, an NFL analyst who once wrote for the Washington Post, was a guest on the “Al Galdi Podcast” on Wednesday. At one point, Bullock strongly suggested what the Commanders should do when Lattimore enters the Washington starting lineup.

“I think I would leave him (Sainristil) outside right now. Because you see the improvement, and in the Eagles game, he was very good. I don’t think long term I would leave him outside. I would leave him out there to continue improving.”

Bullock pointed out that Lattimore would be the top team’s outside corner and would leave Sainristil on the outside and play Noah Igbinoghene inside in the slot.

“He (Igbinoghene) is holding up well enough in coverage, I would leave him there and put St-Juste to the bench.”

Igbinoghene has started seven games this season and played last season under Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt in Dallas.

St-Juste was drafted in the third round by Washington in the 2021 draft. He has 48 career games at corner and has started all 11 games this season at outside corner for the Commanders.

Meanwhile, Forbes continues to disappoint the staff, is not getting playing time, and may end up being another round-one bust pick by former head coach and general manager Ron Rivera. Michael Davis appears to have passed Forbes on the depth chart, getting defensive snaps against the Eagles.

Rivera missed on Chase Young (2020), Jamin Davis (2021), Jahan Dotson (2022) and now possibly on Forbes (2023) as well.

Commanders DC Joe Whitt wants to rotate more on defense

Whitt wants to rotate more defensively so the Commanders are fresh late in games.

Long before the preseason began, Joe Whitt Jr. told the fan base and media that the Commanders’ defense would not consist of merely 11 starters.

As early as June, Whitt was getting after it and did not want to talk starters on defense.

“We don’t have 11 starters; we have 17-18 guys,” he said. “We are going to go out there; we are gonna roll a deep crew and go out there and whoop people,” Whitt said. “We don’t have 11 guys; we have many personnel groups and now can they own those positions when we put them out there. When that comes, don’t ask me about who’s starting, please.”

Thursday, Whitt reminded those listening he had said this would be the case. “Well, day one, remember we talked about rolling with a deep crew and we want to be fresh in the fourth quarter. And the only way that you’re going to be fresh in the fourth quarter is if you play people and give people a break so they can go.”

Whitt explained Thursday that this applies up front and in the secondary as well. He wants his defense fresh in the final quarter of tough, hard-fought games and more depth for later in the season.

“It’s a long season; we want to roll with a deep crew. We want to make sure that we’re fresh not only in the fourth quarter but towards the end of the season when everything matters. That we still have a fresh football team that can run and hit to the way that we want to run and hit to.”

Whitt was clear, this is for his secondary as well.

“Yeah, we were mixing guys in the backfield, and that’s a little bit different because I want to see people in different spaces.”

He likes the effort he has seen from secondary starters and also added that he wants to see more of Emmanuel Forbes, Michael Davis, and Percy Butler (whom he clarified has been playing well and that Whitt sees Butler as a starter).

GM Adam Peters brought in over 30 new faces to this Commanders’ roster. Joe Whitt knows it is a lot better than it was. So now, he wants to get more of his guys game reps and develop them more now so they can be a building block for later in the season.

 

Commanders releasing Davis reminds of Ron Rivera’s poor leadership

Wonder what Ron Rivera thought of Tuesday’s news?

Wonder what Ron Rivera’s reaction was to Tuesday afternoon’s breaking Commanders news?

The Commanders (5-2) had just released four-year veteran linebacker/defensive end Jamin Davis.  In April 2021, Rivera, the Washington GM/head coach, surprised all who closely followed the team when he reached on the Kentucky linebacker.

Rivera then doubled down, declaring Davis the highest-rated available player on Washington’s draft board. We shook our heads at that statement, but we all certainly hoped Rivera was right and that Davis would play up to his being selected 19th overall.

Davis’s release by Adam Peters and Dan Quinn on Tuesday speaks volumes. Just last week, rookie DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste was injured and placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least four weeks.

The Commanders released Davis anyway. To do so at this time indicates that the Commanders’ defensive staff simply didn’t even believe they had a need for Davis, though they are without Jean-Baptiste.

Last week, they signed DT Sheldon Day to the active roster from the practice squad, responding to DT Jonathan Allen’s loss for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

In addition, the Commanders signed DE Jalyn Holmes last week, who had just been released by the Jets after appearing in their first six games this season. Though no longer needed by the Jets, the Commanders have chosen to go with Holmes over Davis. Also, DE Efe Obada has returned from injured reserve and is on the active roster.

If another NFL team does not claim Davis, then he could conceivably return to the Commanders’ practice squad.

Davis’s release can’t help but remind us of how woeful Ron Rivera’s drafting was during his four seasons in Washington. His four first-round choices (Chase Young (2020), Davis (2021), Jahan Dotson (2022), and Emmanuel Forbes 2023) have all massively underperformed, and only Forbes remains with the team—and he doesn’t even start for the Commanders.

What does Commanders’ Whitt think of the team’s cornerback play?

Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. reveals his thoughts on the team’s cornerback play.

The Commanders were ahead 34-6 early in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns and began substituting several players.

Several on both the offense and the defense were given some opportunities, which, of course, provided rest for those usually starting. But did you notice the corners? These guys continued to play with very little substitution for them.

Even though it was a blowout (final 34-13), starting corners Benjamin St-Juste, Mike Sainristil, and Noah Igbinoghene played 94%, 90%, and 87%, respectively.

During his press conference, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr was asked about the corners Thursday.

Regarding Sainristil:

“Mikey, we’ve moved him inside and out,” Whitt said. “The last two games, he’s played outside, and we put him to the field the last two games, and he’s getting more comfortable there. He can play with vision; he played a lot more physical. He’s covering well. So, right now, that’s where we need him to be. So, he’s going to find a home back inside at some point. But from where the defense is right now, we need him to the field.”

Whitt expressed how Igbinoghene has grown from last season in Dallas”

“We got him late last year when we were in Dallas and with the trade when we traded [Kansas City Chiefs CB Kelvin Joseph] for him, and we had a number of guys that were just ahead of him. And with him coming in there late, he came in here at the same time with everybody else and he was able to put his performance out there. And he’s earned the right to go out there and get the reps in the starting position that he’s getting.”

When asked about 2023 first-round choice, Emmanuel Forbes. Whitt was succinct and direct:

“That’s the same as the Mikey question. Playing to the field. Each week, we’re going to play the guys in a position that we feel best, that gives us a chance to win that particular game.”

For interested readers regarding the cornerbacks, Forbes and Michael Davis each received four defensive snaps. Kevon Seymour was active for his first game this season. He didn’t play any defensive snaps, but he did play seven special teams snaps.

Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. is still not satisfied with his defense

Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. wants more from his defense.

Commnaders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. liked the progress he saw Sunday in the 42-14 win over the Cardinals. But he is certainly not happy with his defense thus far.

Whitt didn’t praise his guys for long, choosing to criticize them as well.

“I thought Benjamin St-Juste did a good job of covering even when we were in some of our man looks and spinning out the cover two…So, they were stickier. And we just have to continue that. Our completion percentage against us is higher than I’m used to, so we have to get that down.”

Asked specifically about CB Emmanuel Forbes’ performance against the Cardinals, Whitt didn’t criticize Forbes. But he didn’t exactly praise him either.

“I thought he was in that same group with Mike and Noah. And like I said, Forbes, they all played about the same. They had about the same number of snaps or he might have had more, I don’t know, I think he had 33 snaps in the game.”

At this moment, Whitt suddenly began to defend his decisions regarding playing time, though he was not challenged. “So each week, we’re gonna put the guys out there that give us the best chance. So, we’re looking at that, working through that right now, and then on Sunday, we’ll deploy the men that gives us the best chance to win.”

Last week, after the win over the Bengals, Whitt volunteered that he was waiting for a couple of corners to step up and be the guy that players and coaches could depend upon weekly.

Thursday, Whitt was asked if this week a corner had stepped up to be that guy. “No, not yet,” replied Whitt.

“I think we’ve played solid at points. I need a consistent flow throughout the game. Get up there and challenge and send the ball where we wanna send it consistently. We’ve had opportunities at some interceptions that where we just knocked it down and we didn’t go aggressively to go get it. So they’re a group of talented young men at the corner position, okay, but talent doesn’t mean that we’re playing at the level that we want to play at.”

“So when we do, I’ll tell you, but we’re not right now. And it’s not because of a lack of ability or anything like that. They have the ability. I just have to do a better job of getting them to do it, and we will.”

Commanders’ DC Joe Whitt waiting for a couple of cornerbacks to stand up

Whitt seems happy with safety play, but not cornerback.

“Once we get everybody healthy, then we can see where we are going to put Mikey (Sainristil).”

That was Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., talking with the media on Thursday.

The Commanders’ corners have struggled in coverage in their three games. They have the worst third-down defense (61.4%) and are tied for second worst in red zone defense when it comes to giving up touchdowns.

Whitt referred to Emmanuel Forbes’ thumb injury and their moving Sainristil outside for Forbes. With Forbes possibly playing Sunday, might Whitt move Sainristil back inside of corners Benjamin St-Juste and Forbes?

Then, he dropped this revelation. “It’s fluid. Nobody’s really said, ‘Hey, this is where I am going to be’. We’re waiting for a couple of guys to do that. Once that happens, it will solidify what we are going to do.”

Whitt was saying, he has played five corners and he hasn’t been satisfied with any of them. He is tired of this and he wants a couple of guys to step up, be agents of change and set the pace by being reliable and dependable.

When asked if he expects Forbes to play a significant role, Whitt did not respond in the affirmative. He expressed, “I expect each week it is going to be different people…I do expect whoever goes out there to play winning football. I do expect that.”

A second time, Whitt was asked about Forbes in particular. A second time, he replied about every corner. Whitt didn’t want to talk about Forbes. It’s his prerogative, and even more, no one knows that defense and their personnel better than Joe Whitt Jr.

Whitt then made a very important distinction. “I’ve been pleased with the safety group, their range and the way they have been playing.” He then complimented Quan Martin, Jeremy Chinn and Percy Butler. He made clear he also likes Darrick Forrest

Once again, the question was raised about the corners, and Whitt offered how they had disappointed.

“We haven’t found the group that is going to go out there. I’m still waiting on a couple of guys to say, ‘Hey, I am the guy that is going to do this each weekend.”

Whitt then emphatically added, “And I don’t care who it is.”

It sounds like Adam Peters will be looking for a couple of new corners in the next offseason.

 

Who are the Inactives for the Commanders vs the Bengals?

Each NFL team must list seven players inactive, allowing only 46 to be active during regular season games.

NFL teams rosters are 53 men; however, only 46 are active each game.

Here are the inactives for tonight’s Week 3 contest between the Washington Commanders and the Cincinnati Bengals.

COMMANDERS

  • CB Emmanuel Forbes
  • QB Sam Hartman
  • S Darrick Forrest
  • TE Colson Yankoff
  • LB Dominique Hampton
  • G Chris Paul
  • DE Clelin Ferrell

Dan Quinn mentioned Saturday that Emmanuel Forbes, recovering from thumb surgery, might return for Week 4.

Sam Hartman, barring injury, will most likely be inactive for all 17 games this season.

Darrick Forrest has yet to play in 2024, being inactive in all three games.

This is the first game Colson Yankoff is being listed as inactive.

This is the third consecutive game Hampton is an inactive player.

Chris Paul has been inactive for all three games in 2024.

This is the first game Clelin Ferrell is inactive (knee injury).

BENGALS

  • WR Trenton Irwin
  • G Jaxson Kirkland
  • TE Tanner McLachlan
  • TE Tanner Hudson
  • DT Sheldon Rankins
  • DT B.J. Hill

Quinn names game captains, provides Newton, Forbes injury updates

Quinn updates the Commanders’ injury situation ahead of Monday night. He also named the captains.

At his Saturday press conference, Dan Quinn announced the three captains for the Commanders’ game on Monday night.

Quinn announced the three captains will be receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, punter Tress Way and linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Zaccheaus signed as a free agent in the offseason. He plays with the Falcons (2019-22) and last played for the Eagles in 2023. The former Virginia Cavalier has played in two games this season for the Burgundy and Gold. He has four receptions for 29 yards and returned a punt against the Giants for 24 yards. Quinn Saturday spoke of how Zaccheaus is working hard, “chasing better and better.”

Wagner, a future Hall of Fame linebacker, Quinn said Saturday he really likes Wagner’s “consistency, dependability, if you need something, you look to Bobby. His tackling, his hitting will certainly be a presence this game.” Wagner leads the Commanders with 19 combined tackles, 9 assists and 4 tackles for a loss through two games.

Way is the longest-tenured Washington player, dating back to 2014. “The impact in our building goes way beyond being a great punter, and he has a real presence with our guys,” expressed Quinn. Way has punted three times, averaging 46.3 yards a punt, with 41.3 net yards per punt.

Quinn also spoke positively about rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton. Recovering from foot surgery after the draft, Newton missed the season opener but saw his first action last week against the Giants, playing 12 defensive snaps.

Quinn preached throughout Newton’s rehab and now returns that he was going to be patient with Newton throughout training camp, choosing to bring him along slowly and have him become more acclimated to the speed of the NFL.

Newton did not record a statistic during his 12 snaps last week, but Quinn said this week in the practices with Newton, “You felt the speed, you felt the movements. And we’re excited to get him more reps.”

Lastly, Emmanuel Forbes did get some practice reps on Saturday. Quinn said they will monitor him, and he could be available on Monday; however, Quinn added Forbes would be more likely to play the following week.

 

Commanders’ Quinn ‘We are working hard to develop Forbes’

Dan Quinn remains positive about Emmanuel Forbes and his future.

Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes had a rough 2024 season opener.

Getting beat in coverage several times was bad enough, but then Forbes was called for not one but two penalties on the same play. He was then benched and or injured for the remainder of the game.

Following the game, Forbes had an X-ray, but the word was that it was not serious. Sure enough, Forbes had a splint on his thumb, but he was out there working at practice on Wednesday.

“We’re working really hard to develop him,” expressed Dan Quinn at his presser Wednesday. Would he want some plays back? You bet. But I’d also say this is a young player we’re developing and working with him. He’s improving, and going to improve.”

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1651769851201871877

While Benjamin St-Juste was battling Mike Evans for much of the opener, Forbes continues to play well below the standards of what the 16th overall selection in the draft should be. Rookie Mike Sainristil was also given a rude introduction to the NFL by the Bucs.

It was also surprising Michael Davis, whom the Commanders signed as a veteran free agent, literally saw zero snaps at corner against the Bucs. I thought Davis was going to be spelling Forbes, keeping them both fresh and stronger at the game’s end. But no, Davis only saw special teams action.

This raises a question. Does defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. see Davis as too high a risk to play corner in the game? After seeing how Forbes struggled against the Bucs, might Davis be called upon more this week? Then again, if Forbes’ wrist is giving him problems during the game, does Whitt turn to Davis anyway?

This leads us to Noah Igbinoghene. He played 28 snaps at corner (44%) against Tampa Bay. He also made one of only two plays for the Commanders defense on Sunday where a pass was actually defended. This occurred when he was in very tight coverage and was able to get a hand on a ball, deflecting the pass. St-Juste recorded the only other defended pass. Igninoghene was also with Quinn and Whitt in Dallas for the 2023 season.