The Washington Commanders aren’t strangers to having a Pepsi Rookie of the Week on their team; Jayden Daniels shattered the record set by Ben Roethlisberger back in 2004. Roethlisberger had nine appearances as Rookie of the Week, but Daniels ended the 2024 season with 11. In the final week of the regular season, though, the Commanders had a different player given Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors in Mike Sainristil.
.@Commanders CB Mike Sainristil has been voted as the @Pepsi Zero Sugar @NFL Rookie of Week 18: https://t.co/QwOX9Z1YAN #ROTW
— NFL345 (@NFL345) January 9, 2025
If you missed any of the game, watch how Sainristil anticipates where the ball is going and gets there in time to disrupt the pass:
Mike Sainristil had a day against Dallas.
Wherever he aligns in the long term, he looks every bit of a future Pro Bowler in Washington. pic.twitter.com/sa05Q5D9ui
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) January 8, 2025
In all, Sainristil had 10 tackles (seven solo) and three passes defensed, but his impact goes far beyond that. Opposing quarterbacks have to think twice about throwing in his direction; he is the second-best member of the secondary behind Jeremy Chinn, never mind that he’s a rookie, and he led all Commanders this season with two interceptions.
The Commanders will need that type of play as they head into the playoffs this Sunday when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Wild Card Weekend.