ASHBURN, Va. — Dan Quinn told reporters Friday that cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who was acquired in a trade with the Saints Tuesday, will not play Sunday. Lattimore is dealing with a hamstring injury.
But regardless of his status for Week10, the splash move sent a message to the team that they’re all in this season, a message the veteran Commanders players were especially happy to hear.
“I saw some stuff online saying guys want to come here. That’s pretty cool, you know," said offensive lineman Sam Cosmi, who has been with Washington since 2021. "Just because of the reputation we always had and that type of stuff going around the league, it’s just nice to hear that for sure to be one of those teams that’s desired. The fact that we did it so quick is crazy.”
The wins on Sunday help, but the change in culture is something these players say is done, in part, behind the scenes.
“You can tell that guys are having a lot of fun, not only on Sundays, but I just think like practice during the week doesn’t feel like work," said wide receiver Terry McLaurin who is in his sixth year with the Commanders. "I’ve been in situations where the week feels like such a grind and very tough on you mentally and physically, but we get our work in here like all the teams in the league. At the same time there’s such a purpose in the way we practice and the way we attack game-like situations.”
The Commanders are sitting at 7-2 and in first place in the NFC East heading into a Week 10 game against the Steelers, a change that no one really expected to see happen so quickly for Washington's NFL team.
"To build the culture that we’re building right here, I keep saying that word special, but it is," Cosmi said. "I love that I am a part of it and to be able to do this, it just, it’s nice because being a guy that has been a part of the beginning, it just makes you work even harder just to keep what we have. I love that, I love fighting for that and it’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than the guy next to me, it’s all about the team.”
After they take on the Steelers, the Commanders will turn around for a quick week of practice before heading to Philadelphia to play the Eagles for a primetime game Thursday.