After months of uncertainty, things are looking up for Trey Amos. The Washington Commanders opened the cornerback's 21-day window after four games on injured reserve. Hopefully, this ends his problems.
But Amos' welcome return means Mike Sainristil is officially on the clock.
Somebody will have to make way for Amos. It sounds strange, given how much potential he had as a rookie, but Sainristil may be the odd man out.
Mike Sainristil may be Commanders' odd man out after Trey Amos return
Sainristil started the season but has seen his involvement reduce considerably over the last two games. The Michigan product played just five snaps against the Indianapolis Colts in London, which shows just how little confidence there is in his capabilities.
Amik Robertson, Rasul Douglas, and Fabian Moreau are being preferred, and they are playing well. They have experience and have proven themselves much more reliable when it counts. And with Amos now back in the fold, one has to wonder where that leaves Sainristil in the grand scheme of things.
Washington may keep five cornerbacks on the squad. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones could switch the 2024 second-round pick to safety in one last desperate attempt to salvage his career.
Or those in power may decide Sainristil is beyond saving in Washington.
This might not happen right away. Amos has missed around a year with a fractured fibula and sprained ankle. That's a long time to be without football, so the Commanders will give him all the time he needs to fully get up to speed.
Until then, Sainristil will probably still be around.
But after that, it's extremely uncertain.
Mike Sainristil's future with Commanders looked shaky long before Trey Amos' return
These discussions have likely already taken place. Sainristil's free-fall this season, which started during the 2025 campaign, is alarming. Trust has waned, and a change of scenery is probably the best solution for all parties.
However, that would require general manager Adam Peters to admit defeat on one of his first high-end draft selections.
Perhaps the Commanders could get something back in return via trade before the deadline. It wouldn't be much, but several cornerback-needy teams are out there. And if Sainristil has no real future in Washington, something is better than nothing.
The clock was ticking for Sainristil long before Amos' return window opened. He's a liability, and five snaps in Week 4 with very little work on special teams told fans everything they needed to know.
Amos has the physical profile Jones wants. He's got the athleticism and ball-tracking skills to make a difference. The Ole Miss product can mix it up against the run, and there were some positive flashes during his rookie campaign before injury struck.
The Commanders believe in him. They no longer have the same faith in Sainristil.
And if a tough decision is needed, Peters and head coach Dan Quinn should not hesitate.
It's a tough call, especially with Douglas and Moreau on one-year deals. But the Commanders need dependability right now, and they offer a lot more than Sainristil does if someone has to make way for Amos.
Not what anybody had in mind. But the Commanders are in no position to be working with any sentiment attached.
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