The Commanders suddenly have a tight end problem, and it starts with John Bates.
Bates is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with a strained hamstring, and that puts Washington’s run game in an awkward spot. He isn’t known for piling up receiving numbers, but his value comes in the kind of work that doesn’t always show up in the box score. He is one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL, the sort of player who can tilt an offense in the trenches.
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger has made that case plenty of times. He has called Bates, "the best blocking tight end in the NFL."
Baldinger has also used the term 'JBB' - the 'John Bates' Block' - in his film breakdowns. That’s the level of trust Bates has earned, and why this injury matters more than it might at first glance.
If Bates can’t get back to full strength and stay there, the Commanders may have to adjust in a hurry. Ben Sinnott is the obvious name to watch, and the pressure on the 2024 second-round pick has gone up immediately. Sinnott has to produce, improve, and start looking like a player worthy of that draft slot.
Washington also added Chig Okonkwo this offseason, but he brings a different profile. He’s more of a hybrid tight end/receiver than a battering-ram blocker, so he doesn’t replace what Bates does.
Zach Ertz gave the Commanders a quality receiving option, but he was never the same kind of blocker Bates is. Sinnott is more physical than Ertz, though he still hasn’t shown he can match Bates in that area.
That leaves Washington with some possible short-yardage workarounds if Bates isn’t available. In those situations, the Commanders could turn to an extra lineman such as Trent Scott or Brandon Coleman.
The reason Bates’ absence stings is simple: Washington paid him because of what he does in the run game, not because of his route tree. The team valued his blocking enough to extend him and keep him from reaching free agency.
For now, the hope is that this is only a temporary setback and that Bates is ready by the season opener on September 13 at 4:25 pm in Philadelphia against the Eagles.
In Other News...
Why Commanders Are Betting Big On Odafe Oweh In 2026
Odafe Owehs path to Washington has been anything but ordinary. After coming into the NFL in 2021 out of Penn State, the edge rusher spent four seasons with the Ravens, where his athletic profile made him a first-round pick, and later landed with the Chargers before signing on with the Commanders. For a defense looking to keep building around young, disruptive talent, Oweh arrives with the kind of length and burst that can change a game plan on the edge.
The Commanders are clearly betting that his next chapter comes with a bigger role and a bigger impact in 2026. Owehs background already hints at why the organization is intrigued, from a late switch to football in high school to a career that has steadily moved him into more prominent spots. Washington does not need him to be just another piece on the roster, either. It is expecting him to become a meaningful part of the defensive backbone, even if the exact shape of that contribution is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Shuffle O-Line Again As Camp Competition Takes Another Turn
The Commanders kept their camp roster moving again this week, a reminder that the offensive line picture is still being sorted out as training camp unfolds. After releasing Tyler Cooper to make room for Stefon Diggs, Washington is also working through depth concerns up front while trying to keep the competition at center and along the interior from stalling.
One familiar veteran has now surfaced in the mix, giving the Commanders another experienced option to evaluate as they navigate Nick Allegrettis calf issue and the rest of the summer grind. For a team that has already been shuffling bodies to stay flexible, adding a player with NFL starts and stops across multiple stops is the kind of low-drama move that can matter once the pads come on and the real tests begin. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Get A Big Secondary Boost With One Question Still Looming
The Commanders got a welcome midcamp lift with Trey Amos back on the practice field, as the second-year corner was cleared to return after spending the offseason on the physically unable to perform list. Washington also activated edge rusher Dorance Armstrong and punter Tress Way, giving Dan Quinn a little more room to work as the roster starts to take shape and the team continues its ramp-up toward the season.
Armstrong is expected to be eased back in with lighter practice work, which keeps the focus on how quickly the group can get all three players fully integrated. For Washington, the secondary boost from Amos matters, but the bigger picture is whether the team can restore depth and rhythm across multiple spots without rushing anyone along too soon. [Read more 🡒]