The Washington Commanders still need help at cornerback. They hope that help comes soon in the form of Marshon Lattimore. In the meantime, rookie Mike Sainristil, Benjamin St-Juste, Noah Igbinoghene and veteran Michael Davis continue to hold things down.
Did you notice a missing name?
In the past two weeks, Davis has played 49 total defensive snaps after only playing a combined nine snaps since Week. Since Week 8, 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes has played a total of eight defensive snaps. He did not play in three of those five games.
Forbes’ lack of development and St-Juste’s struggles are a major reason why GM Adam Peters traded for Lattimore at the NFL trade deadline.
In recent weeks, Sainristil has been making his case that he should remain on the outside once Lattimore is healthy enough to play. The second-round pick was initially selected to be the slot cornerback, but Washington’s struggles have led him to play more outside. He’s thrived. His best performance came in Week 11 against the Eagles, where he took turns defending A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, limiting their impact.
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was asked about Washington’s cornerback rotation.
“What we’re doing is less about what Ben’s [CB Benjamin St-Juste] doing and more about what I’ve seen from [CB] Mike [Davis] and want to see more of him,” Whitt said.
Those are interesting comments for multiple reasons. First, it’s not like Davis has stood out. Secondly, he said a lot about St-Juste without saying he’d been struggling. Finally, no mention of Forbes.
“And so, [CB] Mikey [Sainristil] has done a really nice job,” Whitt continued. “We have Ben and Mike into the boundaries, and we have them rotating every two series. And because I think he’s deserving, he’s practiced really well, and so I wanted to see more of him. So, it’s less about what Ben hasn’t done. It’s about more about what Mike has done.”
What happens when Lattimore returns? Who sits? Incredibly, the Commanders believed Forbes and St-Juste would start for them on the outside this season, with Sainristil manning the slot. While St-Juste has done some good things at times, he continues to give up big plays, including one last week at the end of the first half that handed Dallas three points.
Whitt, head coach Dan Quinn, and others can’t wait for Lattimore to debut.