Another Washington Commanders rookie wins weekly award for Week 18
Stop if you've heard this one before: a Washington Commanders player has been voted the NFL's Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week for Week 18.
Congratulations, Mike Sainristil!
Sainristil becomes the second Commander to win the award in the 2024 season, joining QB Jayden Daniels. Daniels was named Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week in (inhales) Week 1, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 8, Week 9, Week 13, Week 15, Week 16 and Week 17.
With Daniels on the bench for the second half against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18, he wasn't going to earn his 12th different honor of the season. So instead, Sainristil got the nod after playing a crucial role in Washington's win. The defensive back from Michigan recorded 4 and three pass breakups on Sunday.
Sainristil, who was a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Championship Game MVP in 2023 at Michigan, was drafted in the second round by the Commanders with pick No. 50. He quickly turned into a major steal and has been one of Washington's starting corners for most of the season, even after the team traded for Marshon Lattimore.
Given that the defensive backfield is one of the Commanders' biggest roster inconsistencies, Sainristil's progress throughout his rookie season has been a major development. He should only get better as he gains experience in Dan Quinn's system.
All in all, Sainristil achieving this honor is just one more feather in the cap of the 2024 Washington Commanders draft class. For as great as Daniels has been, it's important to note that he's not the only rookie making noise in D.C.