Commanders’ Marshon Lattimore Suffers ACL Tear; Luke McCaffrey Headed To IR

3:11pm: When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Lattimore did indeed tear his ACL. Attention will now turn to the recovery timeline in this case, with Lattimore likely in line to miss the beginning of the 2026 campaign.

9:16am: Jayden Daniels was not the only member of the Commanders to suffer a major injury last night. The team’s defense and special teams have each been dealt a blow as well.

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore exited the contest with a left knee injury, and he may very well be done for the year. The Commanders fear Lattimore suffered an ACL tear, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Further testing will be required, but confirmation would end the veteran’s first full campaign in Washington.

Lattimore was acquired almost exactly one year ago as the Commanders added to their secondary in advance of a run to the NFC title game. A repeat of that success seems highly unlikely now, and rebounding from a 3-6 start to the campaign will be challenging with a shorthanded secondary. Lattimore, 29, has operated as a full-time starter in 2025. He would have continued doing so if not for this injury.

As the Commanders seek out an in-house replacement to take on his snaps – or look into the trade market for an external addition – Lattimore’s attention will turn to a lengthy rehab process presuming his ACL is confirmed to be torn. The four-time Pro Bowler is under contract through 2026, with a $2MM roster bonus due in March. None of Lattimore’s base salary for the year is guaranteed, so this injury could threaten his future in Washington or at least lead to a pay cut being worked out in the spring.

In other injury news, receiver/returner Luke McCaffrey may also have seen his last action of 2025 on Sunday night. The 2024 third-rounder was injured on the opening kickoff of the game; Garafolo, Rapoport and colleague Tom Pelissero report McCaffrey suffered a broken collarbone. As such, a stint on injured reserve is forthcoming. That will shut him down for at least four games, but it is unclear at this point if McCaffrey will be able to return this season.

The 24-year-old has operated as a depth option in the passing game early in his career, and his average of 18.5 yards per reception in 2025 ranks second on the team. McCaffrey’s most important contributions have come on special teams, though. His 769 kick return yards rank second in the NFL, so his absence will be acutely felt in the third phase.

Terry McLaurin is set to miss multiple games, and losing McCaffrey will deal another blow to Washington’s receiving corps. The team’s outlook for 2025 is not in a good place given its record along with the strong chance of Daniels missing even more time down the stretch. Losing Lattimore and McCaffrey will add further to the Commanders’ injury issues and increase the chances of the campaign ending well short of expectations.

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