From afar, things weren’t exactly promising for Marshon Lattimore’s participation in Week 11. The cornerback did not participate in practice as he recovers from a hamstring injury. It was no surprise that the Washington Commanders cut him from the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday night football.

Lattimore was acquired via trade from the New Orleans Saints before the deadline to close down one side of the field and compete against the opposition’s best receiving threat. Taking the time for his rehabilitation should serve them well over time. That won’t help the commanders in their long-awaited inter-divisional showdown, which puts the onus squarely on others to step up and fill the void.

One player comes under more scrutiny than most.

Benjamin St-Juste came under fire again after Washington’s close loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. His lack of discipline or poor technique still makes for frustrating penalty kills. It was inexcusable to play so far from wide receiver Mike Williams and let him breeze by untouched for the winning touchdown.

St-Juste revealed that he dislocated a finger during the match, which wasn’t ideal. The reaction from fans on social media was exaggerated. However, this continued an ongoing trend of the Minnesota product not producing when the stakes are highest.

The former third-round selection is giving up 62.9 percent of his targets and has given up 564 yards in ten games. St-Juste’s 113.9 passer rating given up when targeted is a career-high. His production, or lack thereof, is one of the main reasons why general manager Adam Peters made a change and traded for Lattimore.

This indifferent form will not go unnoticed by the Eagles as they strategize for the match. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith have been a constant thorn in Washington’s side in recent meetings. The Commanders appear outmatched against the productive wide receiver duo, so defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. must find ways to limit their influence while keeping a close eye on Saquon Barkley at all times.

It is a complex riddle that the commanders must solve effectively. St-Juste will be targeted early and often. How he performs will go a long way in determining the overall outcome.

Washington did an excellent job of overcoming defensive shortcomings earlier in the campaign. They had no trouble turning games into firefights and relied on their powerful offense to get them through. That was enough for a while, but a more complete effort is needed to stay among the NFL’s elite.

St-Juste must bounce back. This could be his last game as the team’s No. 1 cornerback. He must respond accordingly.

Anything less will raise more questions about his long-term future with the franchise. St-Juste is in the final year of his rookie deal and there are no new contract talks on the horizon. The next seven games represent an audition – a chance to change the narrative and prove he can be part of this team’s future.

Putting in a strong performance Thursday night football is a good place to start. Whether St-Juste can achieve this or not is another matter.

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