The Washington Commanders' first four games of the season have been eventful. There have been high highs and very low lows. But this is a results business, and head coach Dan Quinn's squad is 1-3.
That's the long and short of it.
One can blame the injuries again, but this team was supposed to have better depth. The Commanders were supposed to have better contingencies in place if the worst happened again. It's still early, but some of general manager Adam Peters' offseason decisions are already being questioned.
The Commanders can still turn things around. It hasn't gone according to plan so far, but nobody is throwing in the towel just yet, and with some key men set to make their returns soon, including quarterback Jayden Daniels this weekend against the New York Giants, they should not be counted out.
It'll be difficult, but NFL history is littered with teams that started poorly before going on to achieve great things.
Whether the Commanders can be one of them remains to be seen.
That's for the future. For now, here are five winners and three losers from Washington's opening four games of the campaign.
Winners and losers from the Washington Commanders' first four games of the 2026 season
Winner No. 1
Odafe Oweh - Commanders OLB
The Commanders believed enough in Odafe Oweh to give the ascending edge rusher a whopping free-agent contract. That came with big responsibilities, centered on his transition from a rotational presence to a legitimate three-down force.
It's been so far, so good on that front.
Oweh has 16 pressures through four games, but everyone knew how good he was at rushing the passer. What's more impressive is his improved discipline against the run, helping the Commanders emerge as one of the league's best run defenses to open the campaign.
Odafe Oweh has a team-high 16 QB pressures (16.3%) this season 💪 pic.twitter.com/uCrgjCqqLI
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 7, 2026
It's not perfect just yet. Oweh can lose contain at times, and turning his pressures into more sacks would help. But if he continues to grow, he's got all the makings of a franchise cornerstone in Washington.
Loser No. 1
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
There was hope that Mike Sainristil could find his groove again in a pivotal Year 3 of his professional career. The cornerback was expected to benefit greatly from Daronte Jones' scheme and coaching methods, but things have taken a disastrous turn for the 2024 second-round selection.
Sainristil struggled over the first two games. Jones and head coach Dan Quinn publicly challenged him, but it didn't bring the desired response. His snaps plummeted against the Seattle Seahawks, and things were even worse last time out in London.
The former Michigan standout got just five snaps on the defensive rotation. Sainristil has been phased out, and with 2025 second-rounder Trey Amos's 21-day return window open, his future looks increasingly bleak.
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