Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore has struggled to overcome the injury bug in recent seasons, and that trend might continue into 2024. The four-time Pro Bowler entered Week 1 with a clean bill of health but came up grabbing the back of his leg late in New Orleans’ dominant 47-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. The lone bad thing to happen for the Saints in that game, Lattimore quickly went to the blue medical tent and had the training staff look at the injury.
After the game, Marshon Lattimore implies the injury wasn’t a big deal, saying he was “good” and “solid.” This initial diagnosis has been confirmed by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, who says Lattimore only suffered a minor injury. He shouldn’t miss too much time, but nobody knows if he’ll be ready to suit up for the Week 2 matchup against CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys.
Minor hamstring injury for Marshon Lattimore, per source, echoing what he said last night.
Does he play this week? To be determined, but major matchup against CeeDee Lamb on the horizon
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) September 9, 2024
Marshon Lattimore Injury Update: Minor Hamstring Issue, But Could Miss Week 2
New Orleans better hope that the hamstring injury won’t sideline Marshon Lattimore in Week 2, as they’ll have a much harder time stopping the Dallas Cowboys than the Carolina Panthers. While Bryce Young does not appear to have what it takes to be a franchise quarterback, Dak Prescott is a top-10 passer who will challenge this talented secondary. Additionally, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has a case to be the best pass-catcher in football, finishing the 2023 season with a league-best 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Much like the Saints, the Cowboys won their Week 1 contest in blowout fashion and didn’t need to keep the foot on the gas through all four quarters. Because of this, Lamb finished the night with a relatively quiet five receptions for 61 yards. If the injury doesn’t sideline him, Marshon Lattimore will likely spend most of the game following Lamb and attempting to slow down the biggest threat on the Cowboys offense. If he can’t play, however, Paulson Adebo will likely shift over to Lamb while second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry and Week 1 hero Alontae Taylor focus on Brandin Cooks and the rest of the Cowboys receivers.
The Injury History
As mentioned before, this is not the first time Marshon Lattimore has battled injury. After missing just seven games through his first five seasons in the league, Lattimore missed a combined 17 games in the past two seasons. Now entering his age-29 season, the former first-round pick remains an effective player when on the field, but he must prove that his injury concerns are behind him. The Saints dominant win over the Panthers will silence trade talks for a while, but staying healthy is crucial for New Orleans to get back to the playoffs.
Chances are, Dennis Allen will not return in 2025 if New Orleans misses the postseason for the fourth straight season. Week 1’s dominant win was a great first step in the right direction, but one blowout win against terrible competition does not make a team elite. If you need proof of that, just look at the 2023 Saints, a team that missed the playoffs despite beating the New England Patriots 34-0 in Week 5. The Saints appear to have dodged a bullet with the latest Marshon Lattimore injury, but hopefully, it’s not a sign of things to come.
Main Photo: Chuck Cook – USA Today Sports
