Tag: Emmanuel Forbes

It’s clear what the Commanders think of cornerback Emmanuel Forbes

The last four weeks are further proof of what the Commanders think of Emmanuel Forbes.

There was hope for second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes this offseason. It was a fresh start for the Washington Commanders 2023 first-round pick under new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

As a rookie, Forbes’ position coach had no business being an NFL position coach and was fired after Thanksgiving. However, Quinn, known for getting the most out of defense backs, hired an excellent staff, including defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., secondary coach Tommy Donatell, assistant defensive backs coach William Gay and defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons. Gay and Simmons both played defensive back in the NFL.

Forbes was excited about the changes, and the new staff seemed eager to work with Forbes.

When the Commanders had a joint practice with the Jets this summer, Forbes struggled. But it was practice. Forbes played 55% of the defensive snaps in the season opener against Tampa Bay. He missed the next two weeks with an injury.

Forbes returned in Week 4 in a blowout win over the Cardinals, participating in 56% of the defensive snaps. The following week, against Cleveland, Forbes played only four snaps and was a healthy scratch against Baltimore.

In a Week victory over Carolina, Forbes played 29 snaps, but in the four games since, he has played a total of eight defensive snaps. Despite being active, Forbes did not play a single snap in two of those games. Forbes was active for Washington’s Thursday night loss to the Eagles, but veteran Michael Davis, who had played 32 total snaps all season, played 20 snaps against Philly.

While the Commanders wait for Marshon Lattimore’s debut, it’s clear where they see Forbes. The 16th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft is clearly at the bottom of the cornerback depth chart and is likely not long for Washington once the season ends.

Forbes’s best-case scenario is that he makes some plays when he gets a chance. Otherwise, some of the knocks against him coming out, such as his size and inability to defend the run, will keep him off the field. Washington’s coaches aren’t biased against Forbes. He had the same opportunity as everyone else, even more so being a recent first-round pick, but has failed to capitalize.

Making matters worse, Peters had to trade future assets to the Saints to acquire Lattimore because Forbes hasn’t developed, and coaches don’t feel like he will.

 

Why Marshon Lattimore makes the Commanders defense much better

We look at how Marshon Lattimore makes Washington’s defense better. #RaiseHail

The Washington Commanders are the talk of the NFL. At 7-2 and residing atop the NFC East since Week 2, the Commanders feature one of the NFL’s top offenses, led by phenomenal rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Here are Washington’s current offensive rankings:

  • Scoring: 3rd
  • Passing offense: 11th
  • Rushing offense: 3rd
  • Total offense: 3rd
  • FTN Offensive DVOA: 2nd

As you can see, the Commanders offense isn’t the problem. And while the defense has shown improvements in recent weeks, they’ve had issues stopping the run. Washington’s pass defense is currently ranked No. 5 in the NFL, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story.

When the Commanders face a team with an elite wide receiver, the pass defense struggles. Washington has had issues against Malik Nabers, Zay Flowers, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Ja’Marr Chase.

On Tuesday, the Commanders made a bold move, trading draft picks to the New Orleans Saints for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The 28-year-old Lattimore immediately slots in as Washington’s No. 1 cornerback as the Commanders’ schedule ramps up with upcoming games against the Steelers, Eagles and Cowboys.

We know Lattimore’s history as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, but what’s he doing this season?

Lattimore is still playing at a high level, even though he’s dealt with a nagging hamstring injury this season.

Over the past four seasons, Lattimore’s numbers are even more impressive:

With Lattimore now in the burgundy and gold, the Commanders have six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Lattimore, Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes, Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene and Michael Davis.

In recent weeks, Washington has primarily used only St-Juste, Sainristil and Igbinoghene. Davis hasn’t played defense in weeks, while Forbes’ playing time continues to decrease.

It became increasingly clear that if the Commanders were going to be a contender, they’d need to improve at cornerback. Adding Lattimore allows Washington to move St-Juste into a No. 2 role while sliding the rookie Sainristil back inside at the slot position. Igbinoghene has also proven to be reliable and can play inside or outside. While Sainristil could be a Pro Bowl slot corner, he’s been impressive playing outside in recent weeks.

Washington plays Philadelphia in just over one week. The Eagles have two outstanding wideouts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but also a fantastic running game. If he’s healthy, Lattimore can be assigned to Brown. He’s known for traveling with No. 1 receivers, which allows Sainristil to match up with Smith. Sainristil is a better matchup for Smith than St-Juste, but that could vary from week to week. Having cornerbacks who can line up one on one allows defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. to commit extra resources to the run game.

The good news for Washington is that it now has four playable cornerbacks—five, depending on how you look at Forbes.

Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline was a massive victory for the Commanders.

Could the Commanders trade Emmanuel Forbes at the NFL trade deadline?

Forbes was active and did not play vs. Giants.

The Washington Commanders are reportedly searching for cornerback help ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. At 7-2, the Commanders lead the NFC East but have some defensive issues.

While Washington is currently ranked No. 5 in pass defense, those numbers are deceptive. Teams have been able to run on the Commanders this season, but when facing a top passing offense, the pass defense has struggled.

It’s not the pass rush. Washington’s pass rush has been much better than expected. It’s the cornerback position where the Commanders could use some help.

Washington currently has Benjamin St-Juste, rookie Mike Sainristil, Emmanuel Forbes, Noah Igbinoghene, and Michael Davis. Davis rarely plays, having participated in just 32 defensive snaps this season. The Commanders primarily use St-Juste, Sainristil, and Igbinoghene.

That’s right. Emmanuel Forbes isn’t even a top-three corner for Washington. In Sunday’s win over the Giants, Forbes did not play one defensive snap. The 2023 first-round pick played six defensive snaps in the Week 8 win over Chicago. While Forbes missed a game with a thumb injury earlier this season, he’s been healthy and available for most of the season.

Here’s a look at his snaps throughout the season:

  • Week 1: 35
  • Week 2: inactive
  • Week 3: inactive
  • Week 4: 33
  • Week 5: 4
  • Week 6: inactive
  • Week 7: 29
  • Week 8: 8
  • Week 9: Active/DNP

Forbes’ struggles as a rookie are no secret. While he does have one interception — in Week 7 vs. Carolina — he’s failed to prove he can be a reliable starting option. The Commanders are going with St-Juste as their defacto CB1. While St-Juste struggles at times, he has excellent length, is physical and doesn’t lack confidence.

Sainristil is already excellent, and Washington has sometimes played him out of position. Ideally, Sainristil will be the Commanders’ slot cornerback for years to come.

Igbinoghene has been a pleasant surprise. The former first-round pick has found a home in Washington. While he may not be a No. 1 cornerback, he’s proven he belongs. Even better, Igbinoghene is only 24.

Where does that leave Forbes? And what if GM Adam Peters trades for a cornerback at the NFL trade deadline? Could Peters find someone who wants to take a chance on Forbes?

Sure, you won’t receive much in a trade, but perhaps Forbes and Washington could use a clean break. A team interested in Forbes may not want to take on his rookie contract, though.

It’s unlikely Forbes is moved, but the Commanders could certainly be adding to the cornerback room, which would push him even further down the depth chart as Washington vies for the NFC East title.

Legendary John Riggins has solution for Commanders’ secondary issues

Riggo has a solution for Washington’s secondary woes.

The Washington Commanders are 4-2 and in first place in the NFC East heading into Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

Washington’s offense is one of the best in the NFL, looking unstoppable at times. However, the same can’t be said for the defense. After faring well in the previous two weeks, the defense struggled badly at Baltimore in a Week 6 loss.

The Commanders’ failure to adequately stop the run is puzzling at times. However, Washington’s struggles to stop opposing passing games aren’t surprising. There were question marks at cornerback entering the season, and those questions remain after six games.

Second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes remains a mystery. He’s struggled and can’t even get on the field. Benjamin St-Juste shows flashes but still allows far too many big plays. Free-agent addition Noah Igbinoghene has been a pleasant surprise, while rookie Mike Sainristil looks like a future star. In today’s NFL, that’s not enough.

In the latest addition of “The John Riggins Show,” the Hall of Fame running back had a suggestion for the Commanders if their pass defense struggles on Sunday.

“One possible way out of this, and he’ll already be there, at halftime if they’re struggling mightily is throw a uniform on No. 28,” Riggins said referring to Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green. The Commanders are retiring Green’s No. 28 this weekend.

That’s not a bad idea.

Seeing Riggins discuss his former team and Green’s return to the franchise is more proof that everything surrounding the Commanders has completely changed since Josh Harris and his group purchased the team in July 2022.

ESPN wants to see the Commanders trade Emmanuel Forbes to this team

Will the Commanders move on from Emmanuel Forbes?

It’s been a rocky two years for Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. The No. 16 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft struggled as a rookie and was benched twice.

In defense of Forbes, Washington’s 2023 coaching staff was a trainwreck. However, in the offseason, Dan Quinn replaced Ron Rivera as head coach. Quinn brought Joe Whitt Jr. with him from Dallas and named him defensive coordinator. Quinn and Whitt have a history of developing Pro Bowl cornerbacks.

Unfortunately, Forbes has not taken hold of one of Washington’s starting cornerback jobs. He’s missed some time with thumb surgery, and when he plays, he hasn’t exactly stood out.

During last week’s game at Baltimore, the Commanders kept Forbes inactive. Quinn reasoned it had nothing to do with what the coaching staff thought about Forbes but was due to personnel. The Ravens are a run-oriented team, so the Commanders would play less Nickel, which meant they didn’t need as many cornerbacks.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently named 12 trades he’d like to see before the NFL trade deadline. One of those 12 trades involves the Commanders moving on from Forbes. Barnwell proposes Washington send Forbes to the Los Angeles Chargers with a sixth-round pick in 2025 and receive a 2025 fifth-round pick in return.

First-round picks aren’t usually on the trade block before they’re even halfway through their second pro campaigns, but Forbes is a unique case. An undersized (166 pounds) corner out of Mississippi State, the Ron Rivera regime drafted him with the 16th selection in last year’s draft … and didn’t end up liking what it saw. Forbes began the season in the starting lineup before being benched in October. He was in and out of the lineup the rest of the way.

The new regime that took over after Rivera was fired, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to see much in the 23-year-old, either. Forbes has played just 72 defensive snaps this season. While he has been held back by a thumb injury, he was a healthy scratch for last Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. He is probably the sixth corner on Washington’s depth chart and is due over the next three years more than $6 million guaranteed, which the team might prefer to spend elsewhere.

On the other hand, if an organization still sees Forbes as the dynamic playmaker he was in college, three years of a young cornerback for $6 million is a bargain. The Chargers might be willing to take the plunge, given that Asante Samuel Jr. is on injured reserve for the next three games. There’s not much on the long-term depth chart for Los Angeles at cornerback, as Samuel and Kristian Fulton, the team’s two starters on the outside, will both be free agents after the season. Taking on $6 million for a player who hasn’t been even a passable NFL corner might be a dangerous move, but the upside of landing a prospect who went in the middle of Round 1 just 18 months ago would be worth the risk for Jim Harbaugh & Co.

If Washington was offered this trade, general manager Adam Peters would likely pounce. Peters has already added more picks through trades for 2025 by dealing 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson and defensive tackle John Ridgeway.

Forbes still has a chance to turn things around, but that better happen soon. The Commanders likely have already made their minds up about Forbes — good or bad.

What did Commanders coach Dan Quinn tell Emmanuel Forbes?

What did Dan Quinn say about cornerback Emmanuel Forbes?

Emmanuel Forbes probably had no idea the beginning of his NFL career would be this difficult. Forbes, the 16th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, struggled as a rookie and was benched.

Forbes had a chance to start over this year, though, as the Washington Commanders hired a new coaching staff. Head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. have a long history of developing cornerbacks, and the hope was that Forbes would be the next.

However, through six games, Forbes has been in and out of the lineup. First, there was an injury, but on Sunday, Forbes was healthy and ready to play but inactive for the showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.

After the game, Quinn explained why Forbes wasn’t active. Playing a big, physical team like the Ravens would require Washington to play less Nickel. Therefore, the Commanders would need fewer cornerbacks.

On Wednesday, Quinn met with the media and was asked about Forbes.

“Yeah. I had that conversation specifically and kind of reminded him it’s not always going to be this rocky,” Quinn said. “By the work that you put in, the things that you want to emphasize, and then you work like hell to go improve upon those specific things and the chance is going to come back around. And when it does, you want to be able to go nail it. But the reason you can is because all the work that you put in, so when that chance comes again, you say, ‘Okay, I’ve put the work in, I’m ready to go do it.’ So, that was my message to him about the readiness and that next chance, it’s going to be there again and absolutely be ready for it.”

That’s a perfect explanation from Quinn. Is there more to it with Forbes? Maybe, maybe not. But Forbes must prove himself this year, or he will be elsewhere next season. He has 11 games to show the Commanders he’s improving and should be an integral of the franchise moving forward.

Commanders’ injury report: 5 players limited on Friday

Some good news for the Commanders, while four Bengals miss practice.

The Washington Commanders will travel to Cincinnati for Monday Night Football in Week 3, looking to win their second consecutive game.

The Commanders were back on the practice field for their second day of practice this week, and, in some good news, everyone on Thursday’s injury report practiced.

Some were limited, but it was a good sign heading into the week’s final practice. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes took part in practice, too. Forbes underwent surgery on his thumb last Friday and missed the Week 2 win over the Giants.

Here’s Washington’s injury report for Friday.

Did not participate: N/A

Limited participants: DE Clelin Ferrell (knee), DT Johnny Newton (NIR/foot/rest), CB Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), DE Dorance Armstrong (chest),  CB Benjamin St-Juste (groin)

Full participant: OT Brandon Coleman (ankle), S Quan Martin (hamstring)

Meanwhile, Cincinnati could be in trouble on the defensive line. Here is the Bengals’ Thursday injury report:

Did not participate: S Vonn Bell (back), TE Tanner Hudson (knee), DT B.J. Hill (hamstring), DT Sheldon Rankins (hamstring)

Limited participants: TE Mike Gesicki (calf), WR Tee Higgins (hamstring), DT Kris Jenkins (thumb), OT Amarius Mims (pectoral)

Full participant: QB Joe Burrow (wrist)

Commanders’ Week 2 inactive list vs. Giants

Jamin Davis a surprise inactive for Week 2.

The Washington Commanders (0-1) host the New York Giants (0-1) on Sunday in their home opener.

Which players on the 53-man roster will not be suiting up for Washington in Week 2? Here are the Commanders’ Week 2 inactives vs. the Giants.

  • No. 13 CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
  • No. 15 Sam Hartman (Emergency QB)
  • No. 22 S Darrick Forrest
  • No. 45 LB Dominique Hampton
  • No. 52 DE Jamin Davis
  • No. 75 G Chris Paul
  • No. 80 WR Jamison Crowder

The surprise here: Jamin Davis. Davis, in his transition to edge rusher, played 20 snaps last week and made a couple of splash plays, earning praise from head coach Dan Quinn. Instead of playing Davis in a pass-rushing role, the Commanders chose to elevate veteran defensive end Carlos Watkins from the practice squad.

https://twitter.com/Commanders/status/1835340298081194495

Here are the Giants’ inactives:

https://twitter.com/Dan_Salomone/status/1835341199143481692

No surprises from New York’s side.

Commanders S Quan Martin’s injury a major concern ahead of Week 2 vs. Giants

Quan Martin is questionable Sunday. He would be a big loss if he can’t play.

The Washington secondary was terrible in Week 1. The Commanders allowed Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield to complete 80% of his passes and throw four touchdowns.

Throughout the week, players and coaches believe communication breakdowns led to several big plays. For the team’s fans, that’s not encouraging, considering how the prior regime dealt with communication breakdowns in the secondary on a seemingly weekly basis.

Pro Football Focus gave three members of Washington’s secondary their lowest defensive grades for last Sunday’s game. One of those players, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, will miss the Week 2 game against the New York Giants after undergoing thumb surgery Friday.

On Friday, the Commanders received more potential bad news when free safety Quan Martin was limited with a hamstring injury. Washington listed him as questionable for Sunday.

Martin didn’t have a great game in Week 1, but he did have an excellent summer and showed promise as a rookie. How much worse would the Commanders’ secondary be if Martin is out? Washington doesn’t have one corner who can match up with Giants rookie Malik Nabers one-on-one. So, Martin’s presence could be critical in limiting Nabers.

If Martin can’t go, Percy Butler would start in his place. Butler played well last week, and the coaches seem to be high on him. However, Martin is the starter for a reason. He’s versatile. Washington can move him around the secondary; he has a high football IQ and tackles well.

Hamstring injuries can often linger for weeks. That would be a tough blow for a Washington secondary that already has its share of issues.

Commanders injury report: Johnny Newton upgraded

Newton was limited on Thursday.

The Washington Commanders returned to the practice field on Thursday in preparation for Sunday’s home opener against the New York Giants from Northwest Stadium.

Rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton continues to trend in a positive direction. Head coach Dan Quinn said the Commanders have brought Newton along slowly after a pair of offseason foot surgeries and continue to ramp up his activity.

“So we pushed it hard with him, conditioning yesterday, hold today, but we wanted the padded day for him tomorrow,” Quinn said Wednesday. We’re trending in the right way.”

Quinn indicated the team would have a clearer indication on Friday about whether Newton would play Sunday or not.

“We’ll kind of have a better sense for when we get to Friday, but he’s definitely trending in the right spot,” Quinn said. “So, we’re close for sure, but I’ll trust my eyes and make sure he is going through the whole process to get ready.”

Emmanuel Forbes was limited on Thursday with a thumb injury, but it was later revealed that he’d be undergoing surgery on Friday. It’s unknown if the Commanders will place Forbes on the reserve/injured list, but if they did, he would miss at least four games.

Here is Washington’s full injury report from Thursday:

Did not participate: N/A

Limited participants: CB Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot)

Full participants: OT Brandon Coleman (shoulder), S Tyler Owens (ankle), RB Brian Robinson Jr. (knee), OT Trent Scott (knee)

The Giants released their injury report, and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers was limited on Thursday due to a knee injury.