Officially, the New Orleans Saints will be without their top cornerback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team announced that Marshon Lattimore has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, which they had previously labeled “week-to-week.” He did not practice all week.
Lattimore suffered the hamstring injury in the team's Week 10 loss against the Atlanta Falcons.
Sunday's game will be Lattimore's first missed matchup since his rookie season in 2017, when he went on to go to the Pro Bowl as the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. In nine starts in 2019, the corner has 38 combined tackles, 10 pass deflections and an interception.
In coverage, Lattimore has allowed an 85.8 passer rating in 2019, according to Pro Football Reference. Quarterbacks have gone 33-for-59 for 465 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against him.
Lattimore's lack of availability comes at a frustrating time. Though turnover prone, the Buccaneers' pass offense is one of the better ones in the NFL. Their two receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, make up perhaps the NFL's best duo. Both are in the top-five in receiving yards in 2019. The Saints will now have to defend the two without their lock down cornerback.
In the wake of Lattimore's injury, New Orleans will rely on Eli Apple and P.J. Williams to limit Evans and Godwin. Backups Patrick Robinson, Justin Hardee and Johnson Bademosi are also candidates to see an uptick in snaps.
Despite their upset loss to the Falcons in Week 10, the Saints are in firm control of the NFC South, sitting with a record of 7-2.
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