Rams corner Emmanuel Forbes forces punt to seal 20-13 win
The former first-round pick of Washington used a tipped pass to deny the Commanders a late score, securing a victory for the Los Angeles defense.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Emmanuel Forbes, who was drafted by Washington in 2023, returned to Landover, Maryland, to face his former team on Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams defense stopped a late fourth-down attempt by the Commanders to secure a 20-13 victory.
With the game in its final moments, Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels attempted a deep pass to force the issue. Forbes positioned himself underneath the throw with safety Jaylen McCollough providing support behind him. He tapped the underthrown ball upward, and McCollough knocked it out of bounds to end the drive.
After the play, Forbes turned to the home crowd and wagged his finger before flapping his hands to signal for them to be quiet. He described the matchup as a personal goal he had marked on his calendar. "I had this one circled, you know," Forbes said. "Just motivated to play them guys. They let me go two years and just ready to go out there and show myself and what I got."
Forbes entered the game as a fill-in due to injuries to Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. He recorded three pass breakups and six tackles, though he also allowed a touchdown pass to Van Jefferson and drew a penalty for unnecessary roughness. Head coach Sean McVay praised the cornerback's effort in run support and his consistency in coverage.
"I thought he played tough, I thought he came up in run support, I thought he was sticky in coverage," McVay said. "After we got the one penalty, what I like is that he’s responding, showing great maturity, showing great competitive stamina."
Forbes was a first-round pick in 2023 but was released by Washington during his second season after struggling with his 173-pound frame. The Rams claimed him off waivers, and he moved from a reserve role in 2024 to a more prominent defensive position in 2025. "I’m a ball player," Forbes said. "And when I’m playing my best I think I’m the best in the world."
The Rams also dealt with injuries on the offensive line. Left guard Steve Avila left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring issue and did not return. Beaux Limmer started at left guard for the remainder of the contest. Tight end Terrance Ferguson, who had just returned from a five-game absence, pulled his hamstring in practice on Friday and is expected to miss another two weeks.
