Ben Sinnott’s Time Is Now: Commanders Must Lean Into Rookie TE After Promising Week 15
When veteran tight end Zach Ertz went down with a season-ending ACL tear, the Washington Commanders were left with a glaring hole in their offense - and a golden opportunity. With three games left in a season that’s more about building for the future than chasing playoff dreams, the moment has arrived to see what rookie Ben Sinnott can really do.
Taken 53rd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Sinnott came into the league with a well-rounded skill set and a reputation for doing the little things right. At Kansas State, he wasn’t flashy, but he was effective - a reliable target in the passing game and a willing, athletic blocker who could move defenders at the second level. That versatility is exactly what Washington’s front office saw when they made him a second-round pick.
But up until now, Sinnott’s role in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense has been minimal - more of a background presence than a featured piece. That changed in Week 15.
With Ertz sidelined, Sinnott saw a significant uptick in snaps, logging 56.7% of the offensive workload - his highest mark of the season. And while his stat line didn’t explode off the page, the impact was there if you were watching closely.
Sinnott’s Blocking Opens Doors
Let’s start with the run game. Sinnott was a key reason why running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had his most productive outing in weeks.
The rookie tight end consistently reached the second level, sealing off linebackers and creating clean lanes for his back to operate. It was the kind of dirty work that doesn’t show up on fantasy stat sheets but makes a real difference in the flow of a game.
And then, just before the two-minute warning, Sinnott finally got his shot in the passing game. On 2nd-and-10, with the Commanders looking to ice the game, Kingsbury dialed up a play-action pass.
Marcus Mariota rolled out and found Sinnott streaking downfield. The result?
A 36-yard gain that flipped field position and helped close the door on a tight contest.
It was only one catch, but it was a big one - and it came in a high-leverage moment. That kind of execution under pressure speaks volumes.
It’s Time to Turn Up the Volume
With Ertz out and the postseason out of reach, there’s no better time to give Sinnott a bigger slice of the offensive pie. John Bates remains a valuable piece, especially as a blocker, but he’s not a dynamic receiving threat.
Colson Yankoff is more of a special teams contributor. That leaves Sinnott as the only tight end on the roster with the potential to grow into a true dual-threat option.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t about handing out reps just for development’s sake. Sinnott has earned more opportunities. Whether it’s his effort in the trenches or his ability to haul in a clutch pass when called upon, he’s making the most of every chance he gets.
Now it’s on Kingsbury and the coaching staff to give him more of those chances. The Commanders need to know what they have in Sinnott before heading into another offseason of roster evaluation.
Is he a future starter? A rotational piece?
Or does Washington need to go back to the draft board or free agency to find their long-term answer at tight end?
There’s only one way to find out: play him.
The Verdict
Ben Sinnott might not be a household name yet, but he’s doing all the right things to change that. With three games left and little to lose, Washington has every reason to let him loose and see what he can become.
The blocking is there. The effort is there.
The flashes of playmaking are starting to show.
Now it’s time to find out if he can put it all together with a bigger role. The Commanders owe it to themselves - and to Sinnott - to see where this can go.