Tag: Emmanuel Forbes

Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson joins cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in returning punts

Emmanuel Forbes and Jahan Dotson working at punt returner during minicamp.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said he wanted to put players in the best positions to utilize their skills recently. That sounded like a completely normal thing to do for a coach.

However, Quinn answered the question about cornerback Emmanuel Forbes working with the return team. Some took Quinn’s comments as “He can’t play cornerback, so we have to find something he’s good at.”

That’s not what Quinn said or meant. In college, Forbes had a knack for intercepting opposing quarterbacks and returning them for touchdowns. So, it made sense that Forbes would be good with the ball in his hands. That’s what Quinn meant.

Washington opened its mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and Forbes was still working with the return team. This time, wide receiver — and fellow former first-round pick — Jahan Dotson joined him.

Here’s a photo courtesy of Ben Standig.

Here’s Forbes in action via Mitch Tischler:

Dotson has some experience returning punts from his time at Penn State. He didn’t do it a lot, but when he did, he averaged 13.5 yards per return with one touchdown. The previous coaching staff made a lot of mistakes, but it’s hard to blame them for not putting in Dotson as the punt returner because he was a starting wide receiver. You don’t want to take a chance of one of your top offensive players getting injured on special teams.

Regarding Quinn’s comments about putting players in the best position to utilize their skills, this is another example. It doesn’t mean Quinn or the coaching staff is down on a player because they have them returning punts or kicks. It’s looking for an advantage.

We don’t know what the coaching staff thinks of Forbes. They’ve said all the right things. He’ll have every chance throughout training camp to show them he can make an impact on the defensive side of the ball.

Report: Commanders had interest in free-agent CB Steven Nelson this offseason

Does this mean the Commanders are still looking for cornerback help?

Cornerback Steven Nelson is retiring from the NFL after nine seasons, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston.

Nelson spent the past two seasons with the Houston Texans and played a key role in their worst-to-first turnaround last season. Nelson, 31, played so well that multiple teams had interest in signing him this offseason.

Wilson said the Texans, Raiders, Commanders, Giants, Rams, and Dolphins all showed interest in Nelson this offseason. Perhaps Nelson was tired of waiting and didn’t want to spend any more time waiting on a contract offer or dealing with the grind of another training camp.

Nelson said he’s proud of his football legacy.

“Retirement, after thinking it over and having some talks with my family, I think it’s time for me to take a step back and spend more time with my family,” Nelson said in a telephone interview. “We’re expecting a newborn this coming month, and I wanted to devote all of my time and energy to that and various business ventures off the field. I’m extremely proud of what I was able to do in the game of football.”

A third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2015 NFL draft, Nelson spent four seasons in Kansas City, two with the Pittsburgh Steelers, one with the Philadelphia Eagles and the final two years with the Texans.

“Coming from a small town without a lot of resources, having to go to junior college, making it out of there to go to Oregon State, which was across the country from my family, going through a lot of trials and tribulations to get to where I am today and to be able to persevere and make it this far. I’m extremely proud of my legacy and my career.”

Nelson played in every game for Houston last season and has only missed five games over the past six seasons.

Does Washington’s interest in Nelson mean the team isn’t done looking for cornerback help? Had the Commanders signed Nelson, he would’ve immediately jumped to the front of the line as a contender to start. Washington signed multiple veteran cornerbacks this offseason, with Michael Davis expected to start opposite Benjamin St-Juste. The Commanders hope 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes is helped by the new coaching staff and emerges in 2024.

Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. gives his early impressions of cornerback Emmanuel Forbes

Whitt says he’s pleased with Forbes’ work throughout this offseason.

Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes has been a popular player to discuss this offseason. Some fans have already determined last year’s first-round draft pick is a bust.

Forbes had a miserable rookie year for Washington under the previous coaching staff. He was benched multiple times, and it looked like that former head coach Ron Rivera had given up on him.

When he was introduced as the new defensive coordinator in February, Joe Whitt. Jr said he liked Forbes coming out of Mississippi State. Head coach Dan Quinn loves Forbes’ skill set, saying his ability to create turnovers is his “superpower.”

The biggest knock on Forbes is his size. Some believe he’s too skinny to succeed in the NFL. Quinn said Forbes worked hard to add size in the offseason.

What has Whitt thought of Forbes thus far?

“I’ve seen a young man every day getting better, getting used to my hard coaching,” Whitt said. He’s a kid that has a really good skill set, just like the rest of the young guys, he’s out there working his butt off, and I’ve been pleased with him.”

Quinn and Whitt have a history of getting the most out of cornerbacks. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland thrived under their coaching in Dallas, each leading the interceptions once. Forbes is known for his ability to force turnovers from his time at Mississippi State.

Forbes has worked with the return team this spring. Relax. So have several others. Forbes working with the return team doesn’t mean he’s not in Quinn’s plans. It’s all about finding what each guy does best. If Forbes doesn’t begin the season as a starter at cornerback, it doesn’t mean he can’t eventually get there.

Forbes is at a crossroads in the 2024 season. He appears up to the challenge. The next step is translating it to the field this fall.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn says Emmanuel Forbes worked hard this offseason to add weight

Quinn says Forbes worked hard to add size this offseason and he’s bigger.

One image this offseason of Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes made the rounds and had many fans concerned about his size. Those who saw the pic and commented had jokes, while others said Forbes wasn’t even trying to add weight.

Not true says Commanders head coach Dan Quinn.

“You look for length, so that doesn’t always necessarily mean the size, and he’s bigger than he was, for sure, he’s worked hard on that this offseason to see that weight going up,” Quinn said. “The length and the ball skills, at that position, outside on the freeway, there are some real athletes.”

Quinn stressed that athleticism, ball skills and length were the most important traits for a cornerback playing outside. Forbes has all three.

Quinn discussed Forbes’ ball skills further.

“The first part, is really the ball skills, Quinn said. “At that spot, to be able to turn the ball over, as a defense, that’s something that you really want and I would say that is his superpower.”

Quinn said during the earlier portion of OTAs that Forbes was one of several players working as a returner. He was back there again on Wednesday.

We don’t know what Quinn, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., or general manager Adam Peters currently think of Forbes. However, just because he’s working with the return team doesn’t mean they’ve given up on him as a cornerback. Quinn stresses competition.

While Quinn did his best to quiet any concerns about Forbes’ size, the talk will always remain until he shows he can be a quality starting NFL cornerback.

Commanders go cornerback in way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft

In a way-too-early 2025 mock draft, the Commanders go defense.

The dust has only recently settled on the 2024 NFL draft and we are already looking ahead to 2025. If we know anything about the NFL draft, the hype never stops.

What could the Washington Commanders be looking for in 2025?

That’s tough to say because Washington hasn’t even hit training camp for 2024 yet. However, three positions stick out like a sore thumb: Offensive tackle, edge rusher and cornerback.

Of the three positions, the offensive tackle position appears the most dire. The Commanders believe that third-round pick Brandon Coleman will become their future left tackle.

At cornerback are Emmanuel Forbes, Benjamin St-Juste, Mike Sainristil and a host of veterans. Washington has high hopes for the rookie Sainristil, but this coaching staff did not draft St-Juste and Forbes.

St-Juste is entering the final year of his rookie contract, while Forbes is heading into his second season. If both pan out, this becomes less of a need.

At edge rusher, next year is expected to have a deep class. Washington has a mix of veterans at the position now and could look to add to the group early in next year’s draft.

So, in a new mock draft from James Fragoza of Pro Football Network, the Commanders are selecting eighth overall and choose Michigan cornerback Will Johnson.

The Commanders are in desperate need of a true CB1, and not just because a light breeze could knock Emmanuel Forbes over on any given snap. Will Johnson is the answer, as he could’ve lined up across from NFL WRs last season.

Johnson wasn’t eligible for the 2024 draft, but looked like he could be a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL as a sophomore in 2023 for the national champions. Opponents struggled throwing at Johnson and he has everything NFL teams covet.

There’s a long way to go until 2025 and most Washington fans would tell you an offensive tackle should remain the top priority — even if Coleman pans out.

Former Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore a ‘logical fit’ for Commanders

Should the Commanders sign cornerback Stephon Gilmore?

It’s no secret the Washington Commanders have question marks at cornerback. Will Emmanuel Forbes blossom under the new coaching staff? Can this staff help Benjamin St-Juste reverse his 2023 fortunes?

The Commanders better hope both players can give them something in 2024. Washington allowed its best cornerback, Kendall Fuller, to walk in free agency. Considering Fuller’s age and injury history, general manager Adam Peters made a wise decision.

However, the Commanders didn’t sign a starting-level cornerback outside of Michael Davis. The 29-year-old Davis spent the past seven seasons with the Chargers, where he appeared in 107 games with 74 starts. Davis isn’t a shutdown cornerback, but he is a good, dependable veteran. Outside of Davis, the Commanders added other veterans for depth, who will compete for a roster spot.

Washington selected Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil in the second round of the NFL draft. Sainristil is strictly a slot cornerback, meaning the Commanders could still use another veteran insurance policy on the outside.

There’s a perfect candidate available who has played for head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.

Gilmore will be 34 in September, but last season, he proved he can still play. A two-time first-team All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, and former NFL Defensive MVP, Gilmore started all 17 games for the Cowboys last season under Quinn and Whitt. Gilmore recorded 68 tackles, two interceptions, and 13 passes defended.

Teams are clearly staying away from Gilmore due to his age. However, proven veterans like Gilmore often do not sign with a team until training camp or after Week 1, so he could remain an available option or them.

Bleacher Report recently named Gilmore as a “logical fit” for Washington. We agree.

The Washington Commanders would be wise to give him a call as well. They lost Kendall Fuller in free agency, and Gilmore has experience with new head coach Dan Quinn.

Gilmore to Washington makes sense. The Commanders have signed numerous veterans to short-term deals who have connections to the new coaching staff. Why not give Gilmore a call?

Even if Forbes and St-Juste look to be progressing this summer, Gilmore would be a worthy addition to the 2024 roster.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn had some interesting comments on Emmanuel Forbes

What did Dan Quinn mean when discussing Emmauel Forbes?

Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes had a rookie season to forget in 2023. Forbes didn’t play well, but the entire team was a mess last season.

The Washington secondary took significant steps backward when former coach Chris Harris left for another job. Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio replaced him with a coach who was coaching high school before coming to Washington.

The good news is the former coaching staff is gone. Even better news is the Commanders hired former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as head coach. Quinn brought his secondary coach from Dallas, Joe Whitt Jr., to serve as his defensive coordinator. Quinn and Whitt have done outstanding work with multiple defensive backs.

Last week, Forbes said he was excited for a fresh start.

Before Wednesday’s OTA practice, Quinn met with the media and was asked about Forbes. Here’s what he said:

“We’re trying to find out what unique things a player has,” he said in response to a question about Forbes, who has been returning punts early in OTAs.

What does this mean? Is the coaching staff already concerned with Forbes? While no one in charge was responsible for drafting him 16th overall only one year ago, moving on from a second-year player would be difficult. So, does Quinn’s comments mean, “We can’t cut him, so we need to find something he does well?”

ESPN’s John Keim said in a recent edition of his podcast he didn’t believe Forbes would open the season as a starting cornerback.

Maybe the coaching staff watched Forbes return interceptions for touchdowns in college and thought he could give them some juice as a punt returner. It would make sense.

The comments were interesting. Maybe they mean nothing. Before anyone counts out Forbes, Quinn has maintained there is competition everywhere. That would include cornerback. If Forbes proves he’s one of the top cornerbacks, he will start.

Forbes has the rest of OTAs, minicamp and training camp to prove he has improved under the new coaching staff. Washington needs Forbes. While the Commanders signed multiple cornerbacks in free agency, none of them are really considered a No. 1 or No. 2 cornerback. Remember, fellow cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is also coming off a tough season.

Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. rips on Commanders: ‘That name is trash’

Joey Porter Jr. rips on the Commanders name on IG Live.

Trash talk is the name of the game for NFL cornerbacks. Other than wide receivers, there’s no positional unit that can talk like cornerbacks can. This was on full display with Pittsburgh Steelers Joey Porter Jr. and Washington Commanders Emmanuel Forbes went on Instagram Live and starting throwing barbs back and forth.

But Porter definitely won the battle.

“That name is trash, Porter said. “Commanders sounds like an XFL name.”

The Washington franchise has been through its share of turmoil over its team name over the past several seasons so this one probably stings a little more. The Steelers and Commanders will square off in Washington in Week 10 so these two continue their banter then.

Forbes and Porter Jr. were both selected in the 2023 NFL draft. Forbes went No. 16 overall and Porter went No. 32. Porter outplayed Forbes all season and ended up one of the best rookies in the NFL. Forbes might not even be in the starting lineup to start the 2024 season while Porter has quickly established himself as one of the better cornerbacks in the AFC.

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Which UDFA is most likely to make the Commanders’ 53-man roster?

Which undrafted rookie has the best chance of earning a roster spot?

It’s been a busy offseason for the Washington Commanders. In addition to hiring a new general manager (Adam Peters) and head coach (Dan Quinn), the team was busy with free agency and the NFL draft.

Washington signed over 20 outside free agents, selected nine players in the draft and signed 11 undrafted free agents. That’s a lot of turnover in one offseason, but it was needed after a disastrous 4-13 season.

The Commanders entered the offseason needing help almost everywhere. Quarterback and offensive tackle were the most talked-about positions, but cornerback was also needed.

Washington selected Emmanuel Forbes in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Forbes’s rookie season was disastrous. He was benched multiple times after being beaten badly. However, in fairness to Forbes, he didn’t necessarily have great coaching.

That will change now with Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. While there is optimism that the new coaching staff will help Forbes, the Commanders still needed reinforcements at cornerback. Washington signed multiple veterans to compete in training camp and used a second-round pick on Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil.

Sainristil almost immediately becomes the Commaders’ starting slot cornerback.

Washington signed former Colorado State cornerback Chigozie Anusiem in undrafted free agency. Anusiem began his career at Cal and spent his final two seasons with Colorado State. Many were surprised he wasn’t drafted as Anusiem is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, with long arms and speed.

Anusiem was a hot commodity after the NFL draft, as nearly half the league tried to sign him.

With all of these factors in mind, you’d think Anusiem has a great shot at making Washington’s 53-man roster.

Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report recently named one undrafted free agent from every team that he believes is most likely to make the initial 53-man roster.

Fowler chose Anusiem.

A long and physical corner, Chigozie Anusiem fits the mold of what new Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn covets in his perimeter defenders. He’s built eerily similar to the corners already in Washington.

Anusiem’s ability to seamlessly work downhill as a Cover 3 corner should give him a floor for success in the NFL.

Questions still remain about Benjamin St-Juste and 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes, so a solid showing this summer could help Anusiem suit up in a key rotational role for Washington this fall.

This isn’t like past regimes, where coaches or executives kept a player on the roster because of their draft status or how much money they were owed. Under Peters and Quinn, the best players will make the roster. And there’s a good chance they believe Anusiem is one of their best defensive backs once the pads go on this summer.

Commanders fare poorly in 2023 NFL draft re-grade

The early returns aren’t good for Washington, but a new regime brings hope.

Ron Rivera’s final season in charge of the Washington Commanders was horrendous. The Commanders finished 4-13 and fielded the NFL’s worst defenses, and Rivera was relieved of his duties in January.

Rivera’s final legacy with Washington is his 2023 NFL draft class. The early returns aren’t good. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the Commanders’ first-round pick, was benched twice. Second-round pick Quan Martin showed flashes when he was allowed to play, while third-round pick Ricky Stromberg barely played, made no impact and missed the second half of the season with an injury.

Fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels likely wasn’t making the team out of training camp and was placed on injured reserve. Fifth-round pick K.J. Henry showed promise in the second half of the season, while sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. thrived in a limited role. Finally, seventh-round selection Andre Jones Jr. didn’t do much but has tools.

So, if we graded this class after one year, it wouldn’t be a passing grade.

Diante Lee of The Athletic recently regraded the entire 2023 NFL draft, assigning grades to all 32 NFL teams. Lee placed Washington under the final category: A step backward/Incomplete. Only three teams were in this category, and Lee offered the following analysis:

Washington Commanders: D-minus

Emmanuel Forbes (No. 16) had some rough moments, to the point that he was benched during the 2023 season. Safety Quan Martin (No. 47) played in the slot by necessity as a rookie, but it’s not clear if that’s the best spot for him in Dan Quinn’s defense. After trading away two starting edge rushers last year, this team cannot afford to have its early picks sitting on the bench.

That’s a deserving grade. We could make the case you could give Washington an F. The good news here is that new head coach Dan Quinn brings hope. Quinn hired an all-star staff, including new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., known for his work with defensive backs. That’s good news for Forbes and Martin.

If Forbes and Martin turn out to be hits, while others, like Henry and Rodriguez, can carve out roles, this draft will not look nearly as bad in a couple of years.