Editor’s note: We have been running down some key battles for playing time in the the leadup to Washington Commanders training camp later this month. Today, John Portis wraps up our coverage with a look at the cornerbacks. We hoped you enjoyed this series and come back for all our coverage as training camp finally arrives.
The cornerback spot opposite Trey Amos is still an unknown heading into Commanders training camp, as new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones has made no clear declarations of his
intentions. Mike Sainristil and Amik Robertson profile similarly on the inside, but neither has Rasul Douglas’s length and experience on the boundary.
Amos’ latest injury update, directly from the corner himself, indicates he will be fully healthy for the start of training camp, but the team put him on the active/PUP list on Saturday. Washington’s staff is typically slow to reinsert players who have previously missed time due to injury, preferring instead to allow the player to ramp up.
While this may slow Amos’s development somewhat, it does provide an opportunity for the team to put Mike Sainristil and Rasul Douglas on the field with the first unit for a side-by-side evaluation of their performance in the new defense.
The scheme would seem to be a fit for Sainristil, a third-year cornerback and 2024 second-round pick. Miscast in press-man assignments, Sainristil has looked better in zone coverage when allowed to keep his eyes in the backfield and lean on his natural instincts and ball skills. Jones’ system should be a welcome change for Sainristil, who is in desperate need of one.
Shifted outside during his rookie season, Sainristil was credited for performing well in a less-than-ideal situation. According to Pro Football Reference, his 2024 allowed passer rating was 96.7, but he actually allowed more passing yards than he did in 2025, which was a regression.
His plus ball skills have always been evident, with 14 passes defended and four interceptions in 2024 to go with 12 passes defended and four interceptions last season. Sainristil also recorded 93 tackles in his rookie season and 85 tackles in his sophomore campaign. Versatility, ball skills, and tackling are three things Daronte Jones covets in his cornerbacks. Expect Sainristil to have a role this season.
Douglas is coming off a season in a scheme that was already a friendly fit, as former Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is a fan of zone coverage. Douglas responded well and demonstrated his own ball skills. In 2025, he was targeted 82 times, allowing 54 catches for 515 yards and three touchdowns. He also defended 13 passes and recorded two interceptions, and over his career, Douglas has 21 interceptions. The Eagles’ 2017 third-round selection has plus size at 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds. He has spent the majority of his career on the outside but does offer some versatility to play the slot or occasional hybrid role. Douglas is also strong against the run, with 62 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss last season. Again, we have the three things Jones looks for in cornerbacks: versatility, ball skills, and tackling.
So where does that leave us? Hogs Haven’s camp battle series has not been about claiming roster spots. Instead, it focuses on players fighting for playing time in new schemes. Jones’ teachings promote them to learn the system as a whole and not by individual assignment, as they will sometimes be asked to do multiple, different things.
Both defensive backs should have a role this season, as will Amik Robertson. While some fans may say Douglas is just depth or insurance, Rasul hasn’t played less than 87% of a team’s defensive snaps in the last six years and chose to come to Washington after a strong season. Length on the outside matters, and it isn’t something Sainristil or Robertson can bring to the secondary.
The team is still very high on Sainristil’s potential, and Jones mentioned the cornerback’s history at Michigan and inside/outside versatility during the offseason. However, Jones is ultimately about putting his players in the best position to make plays. Sainristil’s success this season will hinge on finding the proper fit, and the team will most certainly use camp and the preseason to find it. When Amos is medically cleared and returns to practice, will that primarily be on the outside, or will Mike give way to Douglas on the boundary for a more suitable role?
