Marshon Lattimore knows the way he performed last season wasn't good enough. He believes the hamstring injury he suffered prior to being traded to the Washington Commanders made him play timid, and while there were some positive moments, it was hardly what the four-time Pro Bowler expected from himself.
He also knows the Commanders need more from him as he prepares for his first full season with the team, and he's been working all offseason to make sure he's ready for it.
"I just wanted to prove that they [the Commanders] made the right decision," Lattimore told reporters after Wednesday's minicamp practice.
Lattimore, who the Commanders acquired from the New Orleans Saints at last year's trade deadline, played in just two regular-season games for Washington and had up-and-down outings in the playoffs. Part of that was because of the hamstring issue, but Lattimore also had to learn Washington's defensive scheme in the middle of the season, when it was in the thick of a playoff run, and find a way to contribute.
Now, Lattimore has reported to minicamp with more experience in the system, and he's feeling much better about his health.
"Just the burst," Lattimore said when asked about the difference between now and last season. "Just getting all my breaks. I was dealing with a hamstring, and that takes a lot out of you. It takes a long time to heal. I was just trying to battle through that, but now, since I got a full offseason, I feel explosive."
While Lattimore admitted that he played hurt in 2024, he doesn't want to use that as an excuse for his performance. He is used to being one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL who can lock down receivers in man coverage and rack up double-digit pass breakups. He had five with the Saints and Commanders -- a far cry from the 19 he had during his last Pro Bowl season in 2021.
Lattimore said he didn't feel like himself again until he gave his body time to rest. Over the past few weeks, Lattimore has been focusing on getting his explosiveness back, although he's also made sure to get time in the weight room.
The Commanders are banking on Lattimore to get back to his old form. They could use the type of player he was in the past, when he went to the Pro Bowl on a consistent basis. If they can get that from him, it would drastically help a secondary that did finish well in average yards allowed per game but also lacked depth and struggled against top-tier talent.
They have faith the time off did him some good.
"Really excited for him to have an off season with us," general manager Adam Peters said in January, "and really learn the defense from the ground up and really have that full runway of training camp and leading into the season."
Here are some more observations from Wednesday's practice:
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders going through the first day of mandatory minicamp.
-- The defense came to play after the offense had a strong performance on Tuesday, and it started with a heads-up play by rookie Kain Medrano. He forced a fumble early in seven-on-seven drills, and the ball fell into Car'Lin Vigers' hand for the easy turnover.
-- Deebo Samuel continues to look like a perfect fit for Washington's offense. Without giving too much away about plays and formations, Samuel has been all over the field and used in several ways, which emphasizes the versatility the Commanders' staff valued whenever they first traded for him.
-- We likely won't get a full picture of Jacory Croskey-Merritt's skill set until the pads come on. He's a physical runner, which doesn't translate well to OTAs and minicamp. Still, Croskey-Merritt clearly has a good burst and feel for navigating traffic. He had another solid run today, this time up the middle of the defense.
-- Although the defense had a better day, Jayden Daniels was still accurate and poised. He had to scramble more often than normal, but he threaded a few impressive passes into tight coverage, including one to Luke McCaffrey.
-- The "catch of the day" award goes to Michael Strachen, who made an over-the-shoulder grab near the sideline. Strachan is likely on the outside of the battle for spots in the receiver room for now, but catches like the one he had today should help his cause during training camp.
-- Finally, Bobby Wagner announced that he is working with the Children's National Hospital to improve stroke awareness in honor of his mother, who passed away from a stroke in 2009. It's the fourth fund he has set up, and he wants to give back to the DMV community, which said "has embraced me" since he signed with Washington.
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