When the New Orleans Saints opted to trade Marshon Lattimore at this year's deadline, they knew they'd be facing him down the road.
What they might not have realized was not only would that be the case, but it'd also be his debut with his new team ... in the building he's called home for the past 8 seasons since he was selected in the first round of the 2017 draft.
"There’s certainly some irony to it," said interim head coach Darren Rizzi this week. "I’m not gonna stand here and lie to you."
Lattimore was dealing with a hamstring injury when the Saints traded him and he didn't even get onto the field for practice until Week 13 ahead of the Commanders' bye. He's been a full participant this week in practice for the first time since the trade.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was still playing coy when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday, indicating that they wouldn't be cutting any corners just to get him on the field against his former team.
“We’ll take it through the whole week,” Quinn said. “We’re not going to miss one step with him and the practicing and hitting all the markers. If it trends that way good, then [he'll] go.”
The Saints have turned to young players in Lattimore's absence, with rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry and third-year pro Alontae Taylor taking over on the outside. Both players were second round picks, the highest the Saints have reached for a DB in the draft since taking Lattimore No. 11 overall. McKinstry was buried on the depth chart to start the year while Taylor played in the slot.
Both young guys are looking to lock those jobs down in the long run, while Lattimore will likely be looking to show the Saints that they made the wrong decision in moving on. It's just the nature of NFL players, even if the trade sent Lattimore to a team that has far more immediate playoff ambitions.
“He’ll be pissed off, for sure," safety Tyrann Mathieu said. "He’ll have a point to prove.”
Mathieu is no stranger to homecoming games, in fact he had one earlier this season when the Saints travelled to face the Kansas City Chiefs. One factor in the level of emotion is how long it's been since that departure took place. In Mathieu's case there always seemed to be a few years removed. In Lattimore's case the last game he played in was Week 8 as a member of the Saints. This week he'll have to find the visiting locker room in the Superdome, put on a new jersey and face that team.
Mathieu and Lattimore have been in touch, but nothing major, just a check in. He doesn't love the term "revenge game" for such a reunion, because "we all love him," but also adds "he's gonna be ready for this one, no doubt about it."
It's a conversation that's been had in the locker room ahead of the game, Rizzi said, and something the team is going to have to keep in check.
Another player with a revenge arc is defensive end Chase Young, who is facing the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2020 for the first time since they traded him to the 49ers midway through last year.
"Any time you have one of those homecoming games if you will, there’s always a little extra, added juice to it, if you will," Rizzi said. "I know that when those, the three-plus hours of that game Marshon is going to be as competitive as anybody. ... There’ll be a little bit of ribbing going on and a little bit of talk, if you will, but at the end of the day it’s all about execution and going out, but yea, there’s gonna be some of that.”
