The Commanders spent Tuesday looking for help in the defensive backfield, but the bigger splash came elsewhere. While Washington worked out three defensive backs for depth, the Eagles added former Colts Pro Bowl defensive back Kenny Moore to their practice squad.
That move lands with a thud in Washington because the Commanders’ secondary has been getting exposed week after week. In Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, wideouts found space all game long. CeeDee Lamb had his way with Washington, Dak Prescott looked comfortable from start to finish, and tight end Jake Ferguson hauled in two touchdowns as the Commanders again struggled to cover the middle of the field.
Cornerback Mike Sainristil has become the clearest symbol of those problems. After last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Dan Quinn went public with his frustration, saying Sainristil’s lack of focus was “completely not acceptable.” For a coach known for backing his players, that was a notable shot across the bow.
The results haven’t improved. In the loss at Dallas, Sainristil struggled again, and through two weeks Pro Football Focus has him at a 31.2 grade. His standout rookie season in 2024 suddenly feels distant.
But Sainristil isn’t alone in the mess.
Washington signed veteran Rasul Douglas in July, and he has seen plenty of action over the past two weeks. Amik Robertson has been the team’s top corner so far, and the Commanders are still waiting for 2024 second-round pick Trey Amos to return.
That makes Moore’s availability sting a little more. The 31-year-old was released after the 2026 NFL Draft and had been floating around as one of the more notable free agents all summer.
In nine seasons with the Colts, he played in 132 games and made 111 starts. His career line is strong: 649 tackles, 39.5 for loss, 11.5 sacks and 21 interceptions.
He can line up in the slot or at safety.
If Washington passed because Moore is another undersized corner who fits best inside, that tracks with the group they already have. Sainristil and Robertson fit that description too. But if the goal is simply to get better, Moore seems like the kind of low-cost veteran who could have helped right away, especially with the Commanders still needing answers at safety.
Maybe Washington thinks Moore is finished. Maybe he is. Still, the decision to chase depth while another team grabbed a proven veteran feels hard to ignore.
Now the 0-3 Commanders head into their home opener Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and they’ll do it without franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels and perhaps more.
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For Washington, the issue is not just who is on the field, but how many players can get enough practice time to be ready for Seattle. Several other Commanders are still working through various injuries and have been tagged as limited or full participants, leaving the team with more questions than answers as it tries to steady the lineup before Sunday. [Read more 🡒]