With Chig Okonkwo sidelined in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders have a clean opening to show whether they actually trust Ben Sinnott.
That opportunity comes with John Bates sliding into the TE1 spot, but the real spotlight is on Sinnott. Washington spent a second-round pick on him at No. 53 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the organization clearly believed he could grow into a more complete tight end after time behind Zach Ertz. Two years later, that next step still hasn’t shown up the way the Commanders would have wanted.
Week 1 didn’t help his case. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sinnott played just 26 percent of the offensive snaps and never saw a target, even after Okonkwo left the game. For a player who talked boldly this summer about his own growth, that kind of usage was a rough early read on where he stands.
That’s what makes Sunday in Dallas so revealing. If Sinnott stays buried on the depth chart despite Okonkwo’s absence, it will be hard to view his standing in Washington as anything but shaky. If he gets on the field more often and does something with the chances, the conversation changes fast.
Bates can handle the job, but he’s viewed more as a blocking tight end than a real threat in the passing game. That leaves a potential opening for Sinnott, especially with Jayden Daniels needing a reliable physical outlet over the middle. Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, and third-round rookie Antonio Williams will matter in the passing game, but Sinnott is the kind of wildcard offensive coordinator David Blough could lean on if the plan calls for it.
The issue is simple: if Sinnott gets early targets, he has to make them count.
That’s been part of the frustration with him so far. He’s been dependable when the ball has come his way, catching 88.9 percent of his targets over a limited sample across the last two years. The problem has always been volume, not just execution.
Now the Commanders are in a spot where they may have to choose between leaning on experience or giving Sinnott a real chance to matter. The Cowboys will be occupied with Washington’s other weapons, which could create some room for him if Blough designs the game plan to take advantage of it.
If that doesn’t happen, the message will be pretty clear. Sinnott’s progress is still being measured in hope more than production. If it does, Washington may finally have a glimpse of the player it thought it was drafting.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Mike Sainristil Question They Cant Ignore
Mike Sainristil is already facing an early test of how the Commanders handle accountability under Dan Quinn. After Washingtons season-opening loss, Quinn publicly called out the young cornerbacks performance, and Sainristil responded by owning the mistakes and saying his focus is on getting better. For a defense that wants to establish a sharper edge, the issue is not just one rough outing, but how quickly the rookie can steady himself as the spotlight gets brighter.
Isaac Yiadoms arrival from the practice squad adds another layer to the conversation, because Washington now has more veteran depth in the secondary heading into its game against the Dallas Cowboys. The move does not settle the cornerback picture, but it does put a little more pressure on Sainristil to respond the right way. How Quinn and his staff sort out those snaps will be worth watching, especially this early in the season when every adjustment carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Dorance Armstrong Gives Commanders A Personal Edge Against Dallas
Dorance Armstrong Jr. is back in the Commanders lineup after serving a one-week suspension, and his return comes with a built-in layer of familiarity. After six seasons with the Cowboys, Armstrong now finds himself on the other side of one of the NFC Easts most familiar rivalries, joining Washington as it prepares for an upcoming meeting with Dallas. He is working his way back from an ACL injury and sliding into a reserve hybrid linebacker role in the Commanders' 3-4 defense.
Even with a limited workload possible as he adjusts to the scheme and the roster around him, Armstrong still carries obvious value in a game like this. Washington did not bring him in just for depth, and his presence against his former team adds a little more edge to a matchup that already has plenty of it. The Commanders will be watching how much he can handle, but they also know the timing of his return is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Need These Lineup Tweaks To Handle Dallas Better
The Commanders came out of their regular-season opener with enough encouraging moments to believe the roster can settle in quickly, but the 24-22 loss also exposed a few lineup spots that could use a closer look before the next meeting with Dallas. Washington has already spent time sorting through what worked, what didnt, and where injuries may force the coaching staff to look for more snaps from players who were on the fringe in Week 1.
Rasul Douglas, Antonio Williams, Ben Sinnott and Quan Martin all surfaced as possible beneficiaries if Washington decides to tweak roles heading into the Cowboys game. Those are the kinds of adjustments that can make a difference in a divisional matchup, especially when the margin for error is thin, but for now they remain ideas rather than confirmed changes as the Commanders weigh performance and availability against a Dallas opponent that will demand cleaner execution. [Read more 🡒]