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Former Commanders' first-round pick talks trash after schedule release
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- Former Commanders' first-round pick talks trash after schedule release
To the delight of fans worldwide, the NFL released the full 2026 schedule on Thursday evening. While everyone's full schedule was known since January, the schedule release allows fans to plan vacations, tailgates and much more. It's also an exciting time for players.
On Thursday night, one former Washington Commanders first-round pick took to social media to share his excitement about playing against his old team. The Commanders used the No. 16 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes . Many called it a reach at the time, but then-head coach Ron Rivera truly believed he pulled off a heist in choosing Forbes over Christian Gonzalez .
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Shortly into his rookie season, Forbes was benched after being repeatedly beaten by Eagles star A.J. Brown . Teammates tried to console Forbes on the sideline. He'd finish his rookie season appearing in 14 games with six starts. To say he struggled would be an understatement.
Rivera was fired after the 2023 season, and Washington hired new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. It didn't take Peters and Quinn long to realize Forbes wasn't a fit, and Washington waived him during his second season. The Los Angeles Rams claimed Forbes off waivers, and he remains on their roster entering the 2026 season.
The Rams and Commanders play in 2026. Per the new NFL schedule, the two teams will meet in Week 9 at Northwest Stadium. Forbes was paying attention.
"Get back don't have a date," Forbes wrote.
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Interesting. If anything, Forbes should be appreciative that Washington overdrafted him in 2023. Or, perhaps, he should be more concerned about even making the Rams' 2026 roster. After all, Forbes played so well in 2025 that Los Angeles went out and traded four draft picks, including a first-rounder, to the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie . Then, the Rams gave McDuffie a record-setting four-year, $124 million contract.
They weren't done.
When free agency opened, the Rams signed McDuffie's fellow starting cornerback with the Chiefs, Jaylen Watson , to a three-year, $51 million contract.
Los Angeles also declined Forbes' fifth-year option, meaning he'll be a free agent after the 2026 season.
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"Get back don't have a date."
Well, apparently it does, and it's Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Former 1st-round can't wait to play former team
