The Commanders got a taste of what Chig Okonkwo can do on Sunday, and now the bigger question is whether it was a one-game jolt or the start of something real.
Washington heads into Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers after that overtime mess against the New York Giants, and the offense will need more than a few healthy reinforcements to steady itself. Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, and Rachaad White all returned to the lineup this past week, but the most encouraging development came from the tight end spot, where Okonkwo finally gave the Commanders a reason to believe.
Against the Giants, Okonkwo put together his best showing yet in Washington, finishing with four catches for 60 receiving yards on six targets. He got involved early, helping set the tone as the Commanders opened up a two-score lead in the first half.
That kind of performance is exactly why Washington brought him in. When David Blough was promoted to offensive coordinator, the expectation was that the tight ends would be featured heavily.
Instead, that part of the offense was basically invisible through the first four weeks. Okonkwo changed that at least for one afternoon.
The hope inside the building has always been tied to his upside. He landed in what was supposed to be the best situation of his career, and now the Commanders are finally seeing a glimpse of why there was so much interest in him as a free agent. The chemistry with Daniels is still in the early stages, but Sunday showed there’s something to work with.
And Washington badly needs it.
The Commanders have spent years struggling to cover tight ends, and this season has followed the same script. Dallas Goedert, Jake Ferguson, and Isaiah Likely have all had strong outings against them. On critical third-and-short snaps, opponents have made a habit of finding a big target for an easy conversion.
That’s the lane Okonkwo has to fill. He has the athleticism to become a high-volume option in Blough’s offense, and he can grow into one of Daniels’ trusted targets when the throws have to be there.
Zach Ertz handled that kind of role for the last two years, though his impact after the catch was limited. McLaurin has also been a dependable answer on third and fourth downs, but Washington needs another option it can trust. Okonkwo is supposed to be that safety valve, that mismatch, that problem defenses have to account for.
Sunday was a start. Nothing more, nothing less. But for a player expected to matter in this offense, it was the kind of start Washington has been waiting to see.
Now comes the harder part: proving it wasn’t a one-week flash.
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