In the third episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks: In-Season with the NFC East, the spotlight turned to Washington Commanders veteran tight end Zach Ertz - not for what he did on the field, but for how he’s staying involved off it. Though sidelined by injury and moving around on crutches, Ertz was right back in the film room, mentoring rookie Ben Sinnott ahead of Washington’s Week 15 matchup with the New York Giants. It was a glimpse into the leadership Ertz brings to the table - the kind that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet but matters just as much in a young locker room.
The episode also gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the Commanders were preparing for a very different Giants team than the one they faced in Week 1. Back then, it was veteran Russell Wilson under center. This time around, it was rookie Jaxson Dart - and while the Giants’ record hasn’t turned many heads this season, Dart is starting to flash the kind of tools that get franchises dreaming about long-term answers at quarterback.
But with that promise comes risk. Like Washington’s own Jayden Daniels, Dart isn’t afraid to use his legs - sometimes to a fault. That dual-threat nature was a major talking point in the Commanders’ defensive meetings, and Hard Knocks cameras captured head coach Dan Quinn making it crystal clear: if Dart’s going to run like a back, treat him like one.
“He is a running back first,” Quinn told his team, showing a clip of Dart taking a sideline hit from Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss. “He is not looking to go down and slide. So you gotta go out and hit him, fellas.”
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. echoed that message. “The quarterback is a very competitive dual-threat guy,” Whitt said.
“He’ll try to run you over, stiff-arm you - he doesn’t slide much, doesn’t run out of bounds. We can get the ball off of him.”
That aggressive mindset produced mixed results. Dart found some success scrambling, racking up 63 yards on nine carries - not bad for a rookie in a hostile road environment.
But the physical toll was real, too. Dart had to leave the game briefly to be evaluated for a concussion before being cleared and returning.
He also turned the ball over once, though it came via an interception rather than a fumble.
The Commanders’ approach to Dart - and the rookie’s response - was a microcosm of what makes these late-season matchups so compelling. You’ve got a team trying to find its identity under a new coaching staff, a rookie quarterback fighting to prove he belongs, and a veteran like Ertz still finding ways to contribute even when he can’t suit up. It’s classic December football - gritty, unpredictable, and full of storylines that go beyond the box score.