Tag: Mike Sainristil

Will Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore play vs. Cowboys?

The latest update on Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore.

The Washington Commanders received a much-needed break after Thursday’s 26-18 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the second game in four days for a Washington team that still hasn’t reached its bye week.

The extra time off is particularly beneficial for players dealing with injuries, such as cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

The Commanders acquired Lattimore via trade from the New Orleans Saints three weeks ago, but he has yet to suit up with Washington. Lattimore has been dealing with a hamstring injury since before the trade. So, the Commanders knew Lattimore wasn’t an immediate plug-and-play.

“We knew there was going to be some time where it wasn’t plug and play after the trade,” head coach Dan Quinn said Monday about Lattimore. “And so, what I look for from the player to see, is he working as hard as he can to do that and learning as quick as he can? And good news for us is that Marshon’s like absolutely savage worker, wants to go be as ready as you can and digging in, but we’re just not going to take the chance.”

So, what are the chances that Lattimore will practice for the first time with Washington this week?

“I’m hopeful that he’s able to see the field some; he’s trending in the right space,” Quinn said. “He’s still working really hard from the rehab spot to see where he can go. But with a soft tissue injury, we’re not going to miss one step of this, you know that. Just like no different than with the other guys, but we’re encouraged that he’s definitely pointing in the right direction. So yeah, we’re hopeful that we see him out on the practice field some towards the end of the week.”

That’s encouraging news for Washington. The pass defense has played surprisingly well despite some depth concerns at cornerback. Part of that is due to the emergence of rookie Mike Sainristil, who has been phenomenal.

The Commanders host the reeling Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. After Dallas, the Tennessee Titans come to town before Washington’s Week 14 bye.

 

It’s clear what the Commanders think of cornerback Emmanuel Forbes

The last four weeks are further proof of what the Commanders think of Emmanuel Forbes.

There was hope for second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes this offseason. It was a fresh start for the Washington Commanders 2023 first-round pick under new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

As a rookie, Forbes’ position coach had no business being an NFL position coach and was fired after Thanksgiving. However, Quinn, known for getting the most out of defense backs, hired an excellent staff, including defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., secondary coach Tommy Donatell, assistant defensive backs coach William Gay and defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons. Gay and Simmons both played defensive back in the NFL.

Forbes was excited about the changes, and the new staff seemed eager to work with Forbes.

When the Commanders had a joint practice with the Jets this summer, Forbes struggled. But it was practice. Forbes played 55% of the defensive snaps in the season opener against Tampa Bay. He missed the next two weeks with an injury.

Forbes returned in Week 4 in a blowout win over the Cardinals, participating in 56% of the defensive snaps. The following week, against Cleveland, Forbes played only four snaps and was a healthy scratch against Baltimore.

In a Week victory over Carolina, Forbes played 29 snaps, but in the four games since, he has played a total of eight defensive snaps. Despite being active, Forbes did not play a single snap in two of those games. Forbes was active for Washington’s Thursday night loss to the Eagles, but veteran Michael Davis, who had played 32 total snaps all season, played 20 snaps against Philly.

While the Commanders wait for Marshon Lattimore’s debut, it’s clear where they see Forbes. The 16th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft is clearly at the bottom of the cornerback depth chart and is likely not long for Washington once the season ends.

Forbes’s best-case scenario is that he makes some plays when he gets a chance. Otherwise, some of the knocks against him coming out, such as his size and inability to defend the run, will keep him off the field. Washington’s coaches aren’t biased against Forbes. He had the same opportunity as everyone else, even more so being a recent first-round pick, but has failed to capitalize.

Making matters worse, Peters had to trade future assets to the Saints to acquire Lattimore because Forbes hasn’t developed, and coaches don’t feel like he will.

 

Steelers WR George Pickens fined for Week 10 antics

The NFL fined George Pickens for his Week 10 altercation with Washington CB Mike Sainristil, citing the reasoning as a face-mask penalty.

Just when fans of the Black and Gold thought George Pickens had put the Week 10 grappling match between himself and Washington CB Mike Sainristil behind him, the NFL has decided to intervene on one key aspect of the altercation.

Towards the end of the third quarter in the Steelers’ Week 10 matchup against the Washington Commanders, QB Russell Wilson threw an interception, and Pickens took it upon himself to perform his best rendition of a three-point takedown on Sainristil, who was seemingly all but removed from the play.

While it’s unsurprising that the NFL took exception to Pickens’ actions and decided to fine him, the intriguing aspect is what the league chose to penalize the Steelers’ WR  $16,883 for: a face-mask penalty.

With the 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers enjoying an impressive start to their 2024 campaign and needing as few outside distractions as possible, hopefully Pickens will treat the situation as a wake-up call.

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Browns sign promising rookie off Commanders practice squad

Other teams are now signing players off Washington’s practice squad.

The Adam Peters effect is real. Since Peters was hired in January and reshaped the Commanders’ roster, other NFL teams are now signing players off Washington’s practice squad.

This week, the Cleveland Browns signed undrafted rookie cornerback Chigozie Anusiem off Washington’s practice squad to their 53-man roster. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound corner played collegiately at California before finishing his career at Colorado State.

After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, the Commanders gave Anusiem a $50K signing bonus and a $300K base salary guarantee to sign with them as an undrafted free agent.

Anusiem showed promise throughout the offseason. While he didn’t make Washington’s initial 53-man roster, the Commanders quickly re-signed him to their practice squad. He has yet to appear in an NFL game.

Washington currently has five cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Marshon Lattimore, Mike Sainristil, Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes and Michael Davis. While Lattimore has yet to make his Washington debut since being acquired in a trade two weeks ago, there is optimism he’ll be available in Week 12 vs. Dallas.

Everyone raving about Commanders CB Mike Sainristil after performance vs. Eagles

Commanders CB Mike Sainristil was phenomenal against the Eagles. Here’s a collection of what some around the NFL said about Sainristil.

Lost in the talk surrounding Philadelphia Eagles rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell’s performance on Thursday night was another rookie cornerback. Washington Commanders rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil was equally as impressive as Mitchell, often with his less help.

While Mitchell often matched up with Commanders star Terry McLaurin, holding him without a catch (McLaurin had one reception for the game), the Eagles frequently gave him some help over the top.

Meanwhile, Washington’s struggling secondary needed someone to step up. Enter Sainristil. The second-round pick was expected to primarily play slot cornerback, but he’s been forced to play more outside out of necessity, and he’s thriving.

During Thursday’s loss to the Eagles, Sainristil matched up with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson. He allowed two receptions on the night for a total of 31 yards. PFF gave him a grade of 89.0 — Washington’s highest of the night.

Commanders’ fans know they have a gem in Sainristil. Now, others are taking notice, too.

Check out some of these reactions to Sainristil’s play from X.

Warren Sharp:

Ryan Fowler:

Doug Farrar:

Check out the tackling:

Darius Butler:

 

When Marshon Lattimore makes his debut, the Commanders’ cornerback position will quickly go from a weakness to a strength with him and Sainristil on the outside.

Commanders name Mike Sainristil team captain for Thursday night game

Born leader! #GoBlue

Former Michigan football nickel back Mike Sainristil went from being a three-star wide receiver to not only a fan favorite, but a locker room favorite, too. And as it turns out, fans and Sainristil’s former teammates in Ann Arbor aren’t alone in that sentiment.

Sainristil was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the 2024 NFL draft and while he’s still a rookie, he’s already come a long way. Though the Commanders pick team captains on a game-by-game basis until the postseason, Sainristil is already ahead of the curve, having been named by the team as a captain for the Thursday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Sainristil was a two-time captain for the maize and blue, having been voted as such by his teammates in both 2022 and 2023. He was a pivotal presence in the locker room as the culture changed going from the 2020 to 2021 seasons and helped carry on the legacy started by Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Ross, the team captains in that pivotal 2021 turnaround year.

Fans react to George Pickens’ latest on-field antics

Fans are split on George Pickens’ on-field actions after Week 10’s interception, as his physicality raised some eyebrows.

In Week 10, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Washington Commanders 28-27 in an incredible back-and-forth matchup. While the team can hold their heads high as they improve to 7-2 on the season, one Steelers player found himself in some on-field drama.

Toward the end of the third quarter, George Pickens added some unnecessary physicality against Commanders CB Mike Sainristil. After Russell Wilson threw an interception on a deep pass intended for Pickens, the Steelers wide receiver took the chance to show off his best imitation of a three-point takedown on Sainristil.

Video clips began circulating on social media, raising the question: did Pickens once again go too far?

Fans seem divided. While his actions may be detestable to some, the physicality reminds others of legendary wide receivers from the Steelers’ past.

Love it or hate it, here are some of the best fan reactions to Pickens’ on-field actions following Wilson’s interception in Week 10.

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Why Marshon Lattimore makes the Commanders defense much better

We look at how Marshon Lattimore makes Washington’s defense better. #RaiseHail

The Washington Commanders are the talk of the NFL. At 7-2 and residing atop the NFC East since Week 2, the Commanders feature one of the NFL’s top offenses, led by phenomenal rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Here are Washington’s current offensive rankings:

  • Scoring: 3rd
  • Passing offense: 11th
  • Rushing offense: 3rd
  • Total offense: 3rd
  • FTN Offensive DVOA: 2nd

As you can see, the Commanders offense isn’t the problem. And while the defense has shown improvements in recent weeks, they’ve had issues stopping the run. Washington’s pass defense is currently ranked No. 5 in the NFL, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story.

When the Commanders face a team with an elite wide receiver, the pass defense struggles. Washington has had issues against Malik Nabers, Zay Flowers, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Ja’Marr Chase.

On Tuesday, the Commanders made a bold move, trading draft picks to the New Orleans Saints for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The 28-year-old Lattimore immediately slots in as Washington’s No. 1 cornerback as the Commanders’ schedule ramps up with upcoming games against the Steelers, Eagles and Cowboys.

We know Lattimore’s history as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, but what’s he doing this season?

Lattimore is still playing at a high level, even though he’s dealt with a nagging hamstring injury this season.

Over the past four seasons, Lattimore’s numbers are even more impressive:

With Lattimore now in the burgundy and gold, the Commanders have six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Lattimore, Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes, Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene and Michael Davis.

In recent weeks, Washington has primarily used only St-Juste, Sainristil and Igbinoghene. Davis hasn’t played defense in weeks, while Forbes’ playing time continues to decrease.

It became increasingly clear that if the Commanders were going to be a contender, they’d need to improve at cornerback. Adding Lattimore allows Washington to move St-Juste into a No. 2 role while sliding the rookie Sainristil back inside at the slot position. Igbinoghene has also proven to be reliable and can play inside or outside. While Sainristil could be a Pro Bowl slot corner, he’s been impressive playing outside in recent weeks.

Washington plays Philadelphia in just over one week. The Eagles have two outstanding wideouts, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but also a fantastic running game. If he’s healthy, Lattimore can be assigned to Brown. He’s known for traveling with No. 1 receivers, which allows Sainristil to match up with Smith. Sainristil is a better matchup for Smith than St-Juste, but that could vary from week to week. Having cornerbacks who can line up one on one allows defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. to commit extra resources to the run game.

The good news for Washington is that it now has four playable cornerbacks—five, depending on how you look at Forbes.

Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline was a massive victory for the Commanders.

Could the Commanders trade Emmanuel Forbes at the NFL trade deadline?

Forbes was active and did not play vs. Giants.

The Washington Commanders are reportedly searching for cornerback help ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. At 7-2, the Commanders lead the NFC East but have some defensive issues.

While Washington is currently ranked No. 5 in pass defense, those numbers are deceptive. Teams have been able to run on the Commanders this season, but when facing a top passing offense, the pass defense has struggled.

It’s not the pass rush. Washington’s pass rush has been much better than expected. It’s the cornerback position where the Commanders could use some help.

Washington currently has Benjamin St-Juste, rookie Mike Sainristil, Emmanuel Forbes, Noah Igbinoghene, and Michael Davis. Davis rarely plays, having participated in just 32 defensive snaps this season. The Commanders primarily use St-Juste, Sainristil, and Igbinoghene.

That’s right. Emmanuel Forbes isn’t even a top-three corner for Washington. In Sunday’s win over the Giants, Forbes did not play one defensive snap. The 2023 first-round pick played six defensive snaps in the Week 8 win over Chicago. While Forbes missed a game with a thumb injury earlier this season, he’s been healthy and available for most of the season.

Here’s a look at his snaps throughout the season:

  • Week 1: 35
  • Week 2: inactive
  • Week 3: inactive
  • Week 4: 33
  • Week 5: 4
  • Week 6: inactive
  • Week 7: 29
  • Week 8: 8
  • Week 9: Active/DNP

Forbes’ struggles as a rookie are no secret. While he does have one interception — in Week 7 vs. Carolina — he’s failed to prove he can be a reliable starting option. The Commanders are going with St-Juste as their defacto CB1. While St-Juste struggles at times, he has excellent length, is physical and doesn’t lack confidence.

Sainristil is already excellent, and Washington has sometimes played him out of position. Ideally, Sainristil will be the Commanders’ slot cornerback for years to come.

Igbinoghene has been a pleasant surprise. The former first-round pick has found a home in Washington. While he may not be a No. 1 cornerback, he’s proven he belongs. Even better, Igbinoghene is only 24.

Where does that leave Forbes? And what if GM Adam Peters trades for a cornerback at the NFL trade deadline? Could Peters find someone who wants to take a chance on Forbes?

Sure, you won’t receive much in a trade, but perhaps Forbes and Washington could use a clean break. A team interested in Forbes may not want to take on his rookie contract, though.

It’s unlikely Forbes is moved, but the Commanders could certainly be adding to the cornerback room, which would push him even further down the depth chart as Washington vies for the NFC East title.

Mike Sainristil gets first career NFL interception

Mikey does it again! #GoBlue

You knew this had to be coming sooner or later, it’s almost a surprise that it took six weeks for it to happen.

Former Michigan football nickel back Mike Sainristil was known to have quite the nose for the football after switching over from wide receiver to defensive back. Though he netted only one interception in his first year playing defense (2022), he led the Wolverines with six interceptions last season, with his biggest coming in the national championship game against Washington, sealing the title for the maize and blue as the Huskies were driving.

Now with the Washington Commanders, Sainristil has his first NFL interception.

Playing in Baltimore, Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson dropped back to pass and found his man downfield, and it ricocheted of his hands and right into Sainristil’s lap.

CHECK IT OUT HERE:

Oddly enough, Sainristil’s interception is the first that the Commanders have had all year. And surely, now that he has one under his belt, he’s just getting started.