The Washington Commanders got back in the win column Thursday night against the New York Giants, and one of the biggest reasons was a long-overdue burst from Ben Sinnott.
For a player who had spent most of his career waiting for a real chance, this was the kind of night that changes the conversation. Sinnott, a second-round pick in 2024, delivered the most productive game of his NFL career with four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. It came in prime time at MetLife Stadium, and it came when Washington needed someone to step up.
The opening was there when starting tight end Chig Okonkwo left late in the first half with a back injury, though he later returned. Sinnott took advantage in a way the Commanders have rarely seen since drafting him. He had entered the game with just 17 career catches in two and a half seasons, a thin total for a player with his draft status and physical tools.
That lack of usage has defined his time in Washington. He spent two years behind Pro Bowl veteran Zach Ertz, then slid into the background again behind Okonkwo.
Even when injuries created opportunities, Sinnott usually stayed on the margins. On Thursday, though, he was central to everything.
He helped rescue Washington on the final drive of the first half by hurdling a defender for a crucial first down. Then he finished the possession with the go-ahead touchdown after the Commanders made life harder than it needed to be from the six-inch line.
Sinnott added another highlight early in the third quarter, hauling in a 24-yard pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels. He also did solid work as a blocker, giving Washington a well-rounded performance from the third-year pro.
The confidence was never the issue. Sinnott believed he could produce if the chances came, and now there may finally be room for that to happen.
With or without Okonkwo, the Commanders have a path to giving Sinnott a real role as a pass-catcher. If offensive coordinator David Blough is taking anything from his mentor Ben Johnson, it should be the value of multiple tight end looks and finding ways to get those players involved.
Sinnott has caught 21 of the 24 passes thrown his way in his career, and he brings the kind of run-after-catch ability that can turn short throws into bigger gains. Washington may have spent too long overlooking him, but Thursday night suggested the Commanders might have a secret weapon they never fully learned how to use.
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