Mike Sainristil has quickly become an afterthought after his disastrous start to the 2026 season. And his plummeting snaps got even worse in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.
The cornerback played just five defensive snaps in London. Sainristil is closer to the Washington Commanders' irrelevancy than ever before, and it might not be much longer before the cord is cut entirely.
Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones went with experience once again, starting Amik Robertson, Rasul Douglas, and Fabian Moreau. All three made plays, but Washington's inability to keep the chains moving on offense meant things became increasingly difficult on defense as the game wore on.
Mike Sainristil seems closer to an early Commanders exit than ever
Sainristil was an innocent bystander. He was used only when Jones was desperate, and not before. The Commanders are clearly more solid without him, and if the offense had met their end of the bargain or veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota hadn't gotten hurt, the result may have been different.
Sadly, that wasn't the case. But for Sainristil, Week 4 made it clear where he truly stands in the pecking order.
And with 2025 second-round pick Trey Amos now eligible to get off injured reserve, a situation could emerge where Sainristil's services are no longer required.
That would be drastic, of course. General manager Adam Peters may also be able to get something back in return via trade, so exhausting all avenues on that front would be prudent before releasing him.
The Commanders might decide to keep him around. Depth matters, especially given how many injuries this team is dealing with right now.
But the trust has gone.
Commanders don't trust Mike Sainristil, and they couldn't wait around
And when that happens, there is almost no way back.
Sainristil won't be missing this, either.
There have been some tough conversations. The writing was on the wall when head coach Dan Quinn publicly challenged him, and the same problems surfaced. Jones had seen enough, and it'll be a long road back into his good graces from here.
Sainristil can cut and run, or he can stand and fight.
But that decision might not be his to make.
Someone will need to make room for Amos if he is designed to return from injured reserve this week. He's got the size, physicality, and athleticism that look tailor-made for Jones' scheme. While the Ole Miss product has been out for almost a year, he's looking sharp in his workout videos, so the chance of him featuring in some capacity quickly couldn't be ruled out.
And if there is confidence in Amos, then Sainristil may be the sacrificial lamb in this scenario.
The former Michigan star was the No. 50 overall selection in 2024. Several teams loved him during the process, but his lack of legitimate size caused him to slide into Day 2. The Commanders picked him up, and things haven't quite gone according to plan. But another franchise might be willing to try their luck with a late Day 3 pick to see if they can salvage him.
Time will tell on that one, but it does seem as if Sainristil's time in Washington is rapidly approaching its end.
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