Sept. 29, 2026, 7:03 a.m. ET
New Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones has wasted no time making changes. In Washington’s first two losses of the season to Philadelphia and Dallas, one theme kept recurring: explosive plays allowed. Unfortunately, on several of those plays, one player was often involved: third-year cornerback Mike Sainristil.
In Week 1, Sainristil played 98% of Washington’s snaps. In Week 2, those snaps decreased to 82%. In Sunday’s win over the Seahawks, the Commanders had 67 total defensive snaps.
Sainristil played 26 snaps, or 39% of Washington’s defensive snaps. So, how did Sainristil perform in those 26 snaps? The numbers aren’t good. According to NFL Pro’s coverage data, Sainristil was targeted four times and allowed four receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Here is one of those touchdowns:
Sainristil’s 26 snaps were the lowest of his three-year NFL career. There was one time in Dallas when Jones was on the sideline speaking to Sainristil.
He didn’t look happy. Head coach Dan Quinn, who always defends his players, called Sainristil’s effort on one play in Week 1 “completely not acceptable.”
After a promising rookie season, Sainristil is trending in the wrong direction.
Second-year cornerback Trey Amos is eligible to return in Week 5. Whether he returns then or later, that will likely mean ever fewer snaps for Sainristil, who is already behind Amik Robertson, Rasul Douglas, and now Fabian Moreau. Amos will move into the starting lineup once healthy.
Even with fewer snaps in Week 3, these are startling numbers from Sainristil. It will be interesting to see how Washington deploys him moving forward.
