Benjamin St-Juste is a curious case. The Washington Commanders cornerback looks like a capable performer when firing on all cylinders. There are other moments when it looks like he shouldn't be in the league at all.
St-Juste's career trajectory has followed a similar path under the new regime in 2024. The former third-round pick's poor technical flaws come with too many penalties attached. He's targeted as a weak link by opposing offenses in key moments, which is a grave concern and something not going unnoticed by Washington's coaching staff.
Sunday's loss at home to the Dallas Cowboys was the latest concerning reverse for a Commanders team fading quickly after an unbelievable start. St-Juste gave up another big play, but his diminished usage was perhaps the most telling indicator of how his performances are being perceived by those in power.
The former third-round pick played a season-low 58 percent of defensive snaps in Week 12. St-Juste's influence is waning at the expense of rookie second-rounder Mike Sainristil, who is thriving on the outside after making a smooth transition from the slot.
Joe Whitt Jr. confirmed Commanders' cornerback changes moving forward
When probed about this by the media, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. revealed that it's more about Sainristil's production rather than anything to do with St-Juste. It's also something the Commanders plan to continue with moving forward.
What we’re doing is less about what Ben’s [CB Benjamin St-Juste] doing and more about what I’ve seen from [CB] Mike [Davis] and want to see more of him. And so, [CB] Mikey [Sainristil] has done a really nice job. We have Ben and Mike into the boundaries, and we have them rotating every two series. And because I think he’s deserving, he’s practiced really well, and so I wanted to see more of him. So, it’s less about what Ben hasn’t done. It’s about more about what Mike has done.Joe Whitt Jr.
This isn't exactly a glowing recommendation of St-Juste. The Minnesota product is out of contract next spring and looking for a new deal. It seems as if he's got a real fight on his hands in pursuit of another commitment with just five games remaining of Washington's regular-season engagements.
There is another important element of this equation to consider.
The Commanders are preparing to welcome back stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore for the first time since his trade from the New Orleans Saints. The four-time Pro Bowler has been limited in practice this week, but hopes are high he can feature in Week 13 versus the Tennessee Titans. This could push St-Juste further down the pecking order after the team's bye.
It's not looking great for St-Juste, not many would dispute that right now. All hope is not lost, but the defensive back needs to raise performance levels considerably and show the correct resolve to change the narrative.
Sainristil represents the long-term option. Someone capable of becoming impactful and forming a prolific long-term partnership with Lattimore to assist Washington's quest for contention. That alone leaves St-Juste on the fringes.
Whitt laid his cards on the table. St-Juste can either accept his fate or fight with everything he has to turn the tide.
There is no in-between.
