Dan Quinn gives detailed answer on Mike Sainristil's future

The 2025 season has been a nightmare for the Washington Commanders. Coming off a 12-5 season and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, Washington now sits at 3-8 heading into a Week 13 meeting with the Denver Broncos.

While everyone discusses Jayden Daniels' bad-luck season and Terry McLaurin missing seven games, another player who hasn't had the best year is cornerback Mike Sainristil.

A breakout rookie in 2024, Sainristil started every game for the Commanders last season, moving back and forth between the slot and outside cornerback. Washington drafted Sainristil to be its slot corner, but he showed the versatility to play outside, too. And he played well. However, in the offseason, the Commanders used a second-round pick on Trey Amos, starting him alongside Marshon Lattimore on the outside, allowing Sainristil to focus on the slot.

Unfortunately, Sainristil hasn't enjoyed the same success in 2025. His struggles have mirrored Washington's defensive struggles. Other teams have clearly targeted Sainristil at times.

Due to Washington's cornerback injuries — Lattimore (ACL) and Amos (fibula) are done for the season — the Commanders are likely to move Sainristil outside again.

Head coach Dan Quinn was recently asked about Sainristil playing outside and inside, and he gave a thorough answer, something he doesn't always do.

"It's definitely possible," Quinn responded about Sainristil playing outside more. "It's a good question, and it's definitely possible. I'll have fresh eyes for it. I know that's where he'll be right now. It's funny, started in, moved out, started in, moved out. So, I think what I'll do is afterwards kind of take a two-year assessment to say, alright, where's the best thing moving forward? We're fortunate that he has the versatility to do that because when you're at just one spot, it does make it more challenging, but yeah, it's possible."

Sainristil is definitely playing outside more. And while the injuries to Lattimore and Amos are not ideal, it gives the Commanders another chance to reevaluate Sainristil outside. Washington still believes in Sainristil, and getting a jumpstart on where he could play in 2026 could be good for Quinn and the coaching staff.

What does Quinn like about Sainristil playing outside?

"Sometimes there's ideal traits that you want to play on the line, you want to play press," Quinn responded. "And then there's other players that really can fit in any scheme because of instincts or playmaking ability. And so, with Mike, I know it was ironic that he dropped the interception in Miami. There's probably the person I would pick to be in a spot to catch the ball and a punt. Of all the guys that have probably the best hands, he'd be probably the one I'd go to him, pick him. And sometimes the size I would say can, it's not just that. If there's a playmaking ability that can put somebody at a trait that's higher, then I think it's worth doing it. That would be an exception."

Quinn wasn't done breaking down Sainristil.

"For Mike, he's better playing off where he has vision and can use these instincts and the quickness to go. And so, sometimes that's why you think nickel because you're off more than you're down. And so, you can play corner from off, lots of people do it and play it well, then, you're into a quarterback read, it's a three-step, is it five-step? How do I transition? So, there's training that goes with it, but he's capable of doing that for sure."

If Quinn didn't make himself clear enough, he still sees Sainristil as a big part of Washington's future. Remember, during the 2024 NFL draft, when it was revealed how badly Quinn wanted Sainristil?

The final six games are an opportunity for Sainristil to get some positive momentum heading into the offseason.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Quinn's interesting answer on Mike Sainristil