After several influential Washington Commanders figures publicly challenged him following their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, cornerback Mike Sainristil laid another dud against the Dallas Cowboys.
And that might suggest the tipping point has been reached with the 2024 second-round pick.
Sainristil has gone from a talented young player to a complete liability. He cannot be trusted, and the frustrations are getting harder to hide.
Commanders are starting to lose trust in Mike Sainristil
Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones was spotted getting into it with Sainristil after he gave up a catch. When he conceded a touchdown, one of two on the day, every Washington defender around the player looked towards him in unison, which is the clearest sign of a blown assignment.
After that, Sainristil spent some time in the nickel but not much else as Jones took him out of the firing line. He came back in a little later, but it wasn't much longer before Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb beat him for six.
This is a big problem. It simply cannot go on for much longer.
And really, it wouldn't be surprising to see Sainristil's snaps decrease significantly during Washington's home opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
If this scenario comes to fruition, Sainristil can have no real complaints.
His inconsistencies were masked by the interceptions last season. Sainristil was set to take on a big role in Jones' defense, but things have unraveled quickly. Head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters were also critical of his Week 1 performance, and the desired response didn't arrive at AT&T Stadium.
Commanders must think about what the future holds for Mike Sainristil
The Commanders need to think long and hard about their plan for Sainristil moving forward.
The problem? They don't have much else to replace him.
Perhaps Rasul Douglas can get more work opposite Amik Robertson. Maybe Quan Martin could operate as the big nickel, but he's been abysmal to start the campaign, too. The Commanders also have Fabian Moreau, but they've used him sparingly so far. Isaac Yiadom is another possibility after recently joining the ranks.
Washington urgently needs 2025 second-rounder Trey Amos back. But he was seen for all of one training camp practice and has spent almost a full year on the shelf with a fractured fibula and sprained ankle.
So it would be a bombshell of epic proportions if Amos could hit the ground running when he eventually comes off injured reserve.
The Commanders could identify a free agent. Kenny Moore is no longer an option after he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, and the options are thin aside from that. Maybe Peters can scoop someone up off a practice squad somewhere, but who knows at this point.
Either way, Sainristil might be running out of chances quickly. The Commanders have ridden the wave with the Michigan product, but this is Year 3, and the same problems keep cropping up.
If anything, they are getting worse.
And unless there is a miraculous turnaround, Sainristil will be entering the dreaded draft bust territory, with the danger of not seeing out his rookie deal.
That's the worst-case scenario. Sainristil is still confident he can find his form again. But the sample size — both this season and last — suggests this will only end one way.
Let's hope that isn't the case, even if it isn't looking especially promising right now.
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