No Marshon Lattimore on Sunday for Commanders vs. Steelers.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn met with the media for a final time Friday before Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and offered an update on newly acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Quinn unsurprisingly announced that Lattimore would not play in his first game since coming over from the New Orleans Saints.
Washington traded for Lattimore on Tuesday at the NFL trade deadline. He arrived in time for practice on Wednesday, but did not practice this week. Lattimore was on the field with teammates, giving instructions on technique to other corners, such as Benjamin St-Juste.
The Commanders knew Lattimore was dealing with a hamstring issue before trade as he missed the Saints’ Week 9 game last week. However, it doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue.
Washington could be taking it easy with Lattimore ahead of Sunday and hoping he’s ready for next Thursday’s NFC East showdown with the second-place Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have a more dangerous offense than the Steelers, especially at wide receiver with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
St-Juste, Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene will continue to be Washington’s top cornerbacks in Week 10. Emmanuel Forbes also remains in the mix.
An update on Joe Burrow after the beating he took against the Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow gave fans quite a scare during his team’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.
There, Burrow popped off for 428 yards and four touchdowns, but also seemed to take a massive hit on every other play, if not more often.
At one point, after a late-hit that went unflagged despite the defender taking three steps and levelling him, Burrow was seen on the sidelines struggling to pick up his helmet with his non-throwing hand, a theme of the broadcast until it ended.
While meeting with reporters on Friday, though, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that Burrow is simply bruised and nothing more.
With how vague Taylor has been about injuries over the years, fans are justified in being nervous about the injury report next week. But for now, it appears to be good news on the Burrow front and they have an extended break to rest up before Week 11.
The announcers have been set for Sunday’s Patriots-Bears game
The announcers are set for Sunday’s New England Patriots game against the Chicago Bears. Kevin Kugler will handle the play-by-play duties. Daryl Johnston will also provide analysis, while Laura Okmin will be on the sideline.
The game will be televised on FOX.
New England is looking for their third win of the season, while the Bears are looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders.
There are some interesting subplots in this game. Rookie quarterbacks Drake Maye and Caleb Williams will face off in what could be a preview of the NFL’s future at quarterback.
A matchup between Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze and Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez could also be of interest. Gonzalez explained why he was excited about facing Odunze and even veteran Keenan Allen earlier this week.
Kevin Kugler (play by play), Daryl Johnston (analysis) and Laura Okmin (sideline) are scheduled to be on the Fox call for Sunday’s Patriots-Bears game.
Asked about this stuff after the game, though, Burrow said he understands that officials aren’t usually calling facemask penalties in those clutch situations.
“You’re not getting that call in that situation, for the most part,” Burrow said, according to Fox 19’s Joe Danneman.
And on the topic of late hits, via Danneman: “I’ve never really gotten those calls. You don’t expect to get those.”
Fair enough, but maybe he should. And Bengals fans would probably argue after Thursday night that Burrow should complain a little more, like similar elite quarterbacks, and that the facemask flags should probably fly if it’s so obvious.
The Commanders host the Steelers in Week 10 and there are three reasons for optimism heading into the matchup.
The Washington Commanders host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT in Landover, Maryland. Northwest Stadium will be filled to the brim with fans, and while the vast majority will be donned in burgundy and gold, Steelers fans are known to travel well, and we’ll likely see plenty of Terrible Towels in the stands as well.
However, it might not be as much of a mix as it has been in previous years since the Commanders are playing so well this year. Jayden Daniels is regularly discussed as a top Rookie of the Year candidate, and there have even been whispers of MVP votes. Daniels’ skill players and his line are playing at the top of their game, the defense just got a lift, and special teams have been consistent all season.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic as a Commanders fan, but we’ve narrowed it down to three ahead of this week’s matchup against the Steelers.
Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Commanders swept the Giants, hold the top spot in the NFC East
The Commanders swept the Giants this year with their win last week. It’s the first time since 2021 that the Commanders have accomplished that task, and while the Giants are having a rough go of things, the Commanders can build off of that win.
They currently hold the top spot in the NFC East, with the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles right behind them. They are second in the NFC and fourth in the entire NFL. It’s been a long time since that has happened, and the Commanders aren’t slowing down.
The Commanders’ sweep of the Giants gives them huge momentum, which should have them feeling confident and executing plays at a high level this week at home.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
The defense just got a boost in a critical spot
The Commanders’ secondary has been the weakest link of the defense in 2024, and this week, that secondary got a massive boost with the acquisition of cornerback Marshawn Lattimore. He may not play this week for a variety of reasons, but knowing he is there should give the rest of the defense some confidence, especially if they can keep it together against Russell Wilson and the Steelers this week.
Lattimore played his entire career in New Orleans until this week. Now he will don new colors and be part of a team that’s actually winning games. And the Commanders’ secondary gets a solid veteran who can help them continue those winning ways, even if he doesn’t play on Sunday.
Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jayden Daniels gets better every week
It’s hard to ignore that Jayden Daniels continues to impress us every single week. Every week, we expect the rookie to make some “normal” rookie mistake that creates a challenge he has to overcome, and it never happens. Sure, he makes mistakes—everyone does—but he hasn’t made any crazy mistakes that cost his team a win.
Washington has the eighth-ranked passing offense and second-ranked run offense. The Steelers have the fourth-ranked run defense, and their passing defense is middle-of-the-pack. Because Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback, he needs to be extra aware of where TJ Watt is on the field because Watt can sniff out the ball like no one else and make whatever adjustment needs made to get there. Daniels’ saving grace will be his legs this week, not that he will run the ball often, but there will be plenty of times he has to move.
Onlookers are livid, with Skip Bayless actually leading the way by saying the NFL ruined one of the best games he’s ever seen.
“How can you let Baltimore, in Baltimore, get away with hitting Joe Burrow in the head twice on the last drive?” Bayless said. “One grab of the facemask. One smash to the facemask and you don’t call that? That’s just choking. That’s just the refs afraid to reach for the yellow in the Ravens stadium because they’re afraid of the Ravens fans.”
Usually, reactions like these about officiating fall into hyperbole and are easily dismissed. But when the official broadcast of the game is calling out the missed flags — and noting it has been a problem all year — it’s hard to handwave away.
The Bengals missed plenty of opportunities to put Thursday night’s game away and move to 5-5. Instead, they’re 4-6 after blowing a big lead. But yes, it would be nice if all-time classics like Thursday night — and any game, for that matter — weren’t marred by strange officiating hiccups so consistently.
The refs missed two calls on the most important pay of the game.
The Cincinnati Bengalsattempted a two-point conversion that could have won Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens with roughly 30 seconds left in regulation.
Joe Burrow’s pass fell incomplete and the Bengals lost — with heaps of controversy included.
NFL fans don’t need to guess – -the controversy stemmed from poor officiating.
As the Amazon broadcast pointed out, officials missed two penalties against the Ravens on the play. One, a defensive holding call that impeded Mike Gesicki.
And two, a facemask penalty while Burrow fired off his pass, the second time in the fourth quarter his helmet was hit in a way that should have been flagged.
Either infraction would have given the Bengals another chance. Instead, the NFL world is left wondering how the league might finally address this problem.
#Bengals go for 2 just three days after the #Buccaneers played for OT and lost. No flag on defensive holding or forcible contact to Joe Burrow’s head. #Ravens sweep the season series. pic.twitter.com/Ug8ThcNa0Z
The #Ravens got away with a defensive holding and a roughing the passer on the failed two-point conversion, Terry McAulay said on the broadcast. pic.twitter.com/NcWLiaChnR
Instant analysis after Bengals vs. Ravens in Week 10.
The Cincinnati Bengals imploded in primetime during Thursday night’s 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Needing to get a season-saving win to make it to 5-5, Joe Burrow’s team collapsed in the second half. At one point, the Bengals had a 21-7 lead, but nothing is ever that simple in an AFC North fight between these teams. The score then flipped to 28-21 Ravens, before a one-play touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase tied it up at 28. Then, another Ravens touchdown and then a Bengals score, but a failed two-point try.
Got all that?
Here’s a quick look at thoughts and numbers to know from Thursday’s game.
Quick Thoughts
Nice to see Zac Taylor stay aggressive and go for it on fourth down in the redzone on the opening drive. A flag helped them eventually make it 7-0. At least the coaching staff admits it needs that type of aggression because the defense is struggling.
Defense forced three punts in the first half, the total forced in the first game against the same team earlier this year. Call it a mixture of Thursday night sloppiness — but also the unit improving.
Brutal fumble by Chase Brown. He rarely does it. But there’s the possible outcome of making him be a workhorse last Sunday, then asking so much of him again on Thursday.
Throwing two go-balls on third and fourth-and short in the fourth quarter was…an interesting choice.
Logan Wilson with the sorriest tackling effort of the season when the Ravens went 80-plus yards up the sideline for a touchdown.
Shocker to go for the two-point conversion for the win with about 30 seconds left. But the Ravens had been unstoppable. Go win the game with Burrow, right?
Key Stat
1: The lone turnover for the Bengals. The Chase Brown fumble changed the entire complexion of the game, letting the Ravens claw back into it and grab momentum.
Game Balls
QB Joe Burrow: So many times, it was Burrow working magic on his own to extend plays in front of a line missing its starting left tackle. He had just one really bad mistake all night. Otherwise, 428 yards and four scores.
WR Ja’Marr Chase: Who else? He had the 67-yard score and despite no Tee Higgins on the field, ran that number up to 264 yards with three touchdowns.
Top Takeaway
Red flag: This is proof of the front office’s failures over the last two years. Burrow and Chase had a stunning day that should result in a win most games. Instead, the defense failed, the offensive line depth is bad and non-Chase weapons just weren’t up to the task.
The New Orleans Saints shared some good news on Week 10’s injury report update ahead of their game with the Atlanta Falcons:
There were two big changes to the New Orleans Saints injury report ahead of Week 10’s game with the Atlanta Falcons. Two starters on injured reserve returned to practice, one of them receiving an upgrade to full reps — safety Will Harris (hamstring). Another, center Erik McCoy (groin), practiced on a limited basis. McCoy’s return is likely a week away or more but that’s a big step in the right direction.
Other than that, it’s more of the same. Wide receivers Chris Olave (concussion) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) still didn’t participate. Neither did cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) nor left guard Lucas Patrick (ankle). Here’s everything you need to know:
The New England Patriots dropped their second injury report of the week on Thursday, and once again, veteran safety Kyle Dugger was listed as a non-participant due to an ankle injury.
Linebacker Christian Elliss was the other name on that list ahead of Sunday’s Week 10 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
The Patriots had six players as limited participants, including Keion White, Vederian Lowe, Daniel Ekuale and Marte Mapu. Injuries have plagued the Patriots throughout the season along the offensive line and the defensive side of the ball.
They might once again be facing an uphill battle this week on the road against the Bears. Here are the full injury reports from both teams:
New England Patriots
Did not participate
S Kyle Dugger, Ankle
LB Christian Elliss, Abdomen
Limited participation
DT Daniel Ekuale, Abdomen
T Vederian Lowe, Shoulder
S Marte Mapu, Neck
DT Jaquelin Roy, Neck
LB Sione Takitaki, Knee
DE Keion White, Knee
Full participation
CB Alex Austin, Ankle
G Michael Jordan, Ankle
G Layden Robinson, Ankle
Chicago Bears
Did not participate
OL Kiran Amegadjie, Calf
DB Jaquan Brisker, Concussion
TE Marcedes Lewis, Not Injury Related – Rest
LB Noah Sewell, Knee
OL Darnell Wright, Knee
Limited participation
DB Kyler Gordon, Hamstring
OL Braxton Jones, Knee
DB Terell Smith, Ankle
DL Darrell Taylor, Knee
Full participation
OL Ryan Bates, Shoulder
OL Teven Jenkins, Knee
DL Montez Sweat, Shin
Alex Austin injury update
Cornerback Alex Austin being a full participant means he might have a chance to get back on the field on Sunday. He’s a young player with some upside as a rotational piece in the defensive backfield.
Keion White injury update
Keion White has been a key contributor along the defensive front for the Patriots. He was a limited participant on Thursday due to a knee injury, but there has been no mention of the injury actually keeping him out of this week’s game. It’s still worth keeping a close eye on.
Kyle Dugger injury update
One player who could be in danger of missing the game is veteran safety Kyle Dugger. Being out in back-to-back practices leading up to a game isn’t a good sign. We’ll see what his status is on Friday, but it could be another game with Jaylin Hawkins and Dell Pettus in the defensive backfield.
