After saying earlier in the week that Lattimore “hit all the markers” the team needed to see to clear him, Quinn confirmed Lattimore’s availability for Sunday night’s game against the Buccaneers. It will be the latest installment of the Marshon Lattimore vs. Mike Evans saga, as Lattimore expected to see plenty of his former division rival in the tilt. How healthy Lattimore is remains a mystery, as the veteran corner has dealt with this nagging hamstring injury for most of the season, but he’s well-enough to take the field for the Commanders in what will be just his third game with the team.

He added that he expects that to continue throughout the week. Lattimore missed the final two weeks of the regular season with the lingering hamstring issue, but it sounds like he is on track to return for Washington’s Wild Card Round matchup with the Bucs. Quinn told reporters every on the roster is practicing in some capacity save for a handful of rest days, so Lattimore seemingly got in some work on Wednesday as well. Thursday’s session, a full-speed workout, will be more revealing for Lattimore’s status.

Lattimore has been a DNP in practice all week and will now miss his 27th regular season game dating back to 2022. Speaking on Friday, head coach Dan Quinn said of Lattimore, “I love the speed he’s working with, and he’s certainly very close (to returning).” After clinching a playoff berth last week with a win over the Falcons, the Commanders have bigger things to worry about than Week 18’s game against the Cowboys. Lattimore being healthy come the NFC Wild Card round is undoubtedly the team’s top priority.

Andrew Wylie and Marshon Lattimore are the two big names on this list, both now consistent producers on either side of the ball. The Commanders currently occupy the No. 7 seed out of the NFC but have a better conference record than the Packers, meaning they could leapfrog Green Bay in the NFC standings this week should the Packers lose.