Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
It takes a lot for head coach Dan Quinn to criticize his players publicly. When he does, it carries a ton of weight, which is precisely what cornerback Mike Sainristil unfortunately experienced after a disastrous showing against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Washington Commanders need Sainristil to become more disciplined this season. The takeaways are nice, but they count for little if the explosive plays he concedes overshadow them. And in Year 3, the Michigan product is no longer an inexperienced rookie.
Patience is wearing extremely thin with Sainristil. He made glaring, costly errors at Lincoln Financial Field. On a couple of occasions, the 2024 second-round pick looked completely unaware of his responsibilities, which is astonishing in the circumstances.
The Commanders have no choice but to keep playing Sainristil and hope he can get out of this slump. Trey Amos is on injured reserve, which leaves only him, Amik Robertson, Rasul Douglas, and Fabian Moreau as viable options. But he'd better get his act together quickly.
Sainristil's next task will be against George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. The Dallas Cowboys know better than almost anyone how to expose the player's flaws, so any more lapses will be punished heavily.
It's now or never for Sainristil. Quinn calling him out in public proves that.
Jeremy Reaves - Commanders S
Jeremy Reaves is part of Washington's fabric. He's beloved among the fan base and is a true rags-to-riches inspiration. But the veteran safety may not be cut out to start in Daronte Jones' defensive scheme.
Reaves worked exceptionally hard to become more of a feature defensively. He earned All-Pro honors on special teams, and the coaching staff wanted to see if this could transition into the rotation. There were a few flashes last season, but his first outing of 2026 was not a good one.
The South Alabama product looked hesitant. Reaves' back-end coverage support didn't meet his typical standards, and he struggled when runners reached the second and third levels.
Not enough to press the panic button just yet. But the inconsistencies aren't going away.
This is the sort of feast-or-famine player Reaves is. He's passionate and never lacks effort. But he's never been the most talented, and heart only gets you so far at the very top.
Reaves will be the first to admit that he didn't play well. His 49.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 63rd out of 79 safeties league-wide, which just isn't good enough. Any similar frailties will get exposed further against Dallas' high-octane passing attack.
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