Commanders Add Developmental Tight End Gee Scott Jr., Signaling Future Offensive Blueprint
With three games left in a tough season, the Washington Commanders are already looking ahead - and their latest roster move gives us a glimpse into how this offense might be constructed in 2026 and beyond.
Washington has signed former Ohio State tight end Gee Scott Jr. to the practice squad. On the surface, it’s a response to injuries. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear this move fits into a broader vision that GM Adam Peters has been building since he arrived.
Let’s start with the basics: Scott is now the seventh tight end under contract across the Commanders’ active roster, practice squad, and injured reserve. That’s not by accident. Peters has made it clear he values versatility at the position - and Scott fits the mold of the modern “F” tight end, a role that’s become increasingly important in today’s NFL.
A Tight End in Name, a Receiver at Heart
Scott isn’t your traditional in-line blocker. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, he’s built more like a big slot receiver or an H-back than a classic Y tight end.
That’s because he was a receiver - a highly touted one, in fact. Coming out of high school, Scott was ranked among the top dozen wideouts in the country.
But at Ohio State, where the receiver room is always overflowing with NFL talent, he transitioned to tight end during his sophomore season.
The production never really popped in Columbus. But scouts saw the raw tools: 4.6 speed in the 40, soft hands, and the kind of route-running savvy you’d expect from someone who spent years on the outside.
That athletic profile got him a post-draft look from the New England Patriots, a team that’s long valued tight ends who can flex out or move around the formation. But in a crowded room, Scott didn’t stick.
Now, he gets another chance in Washington - and it comes at a time when the Commanders are thin at the position.
Depth Tested, Opportunity Knocks
Zach Ertz, the team’s veteran tight end, is done for the year. Colson Yankoff, one of just three healthy tight ends on the roster last week, injured his ankle against the Giants and is questionable going into this week’s matchup with the Eagles. Kliff Kingsbury’s offense leans heavily on tight ends, and with depth stretched thin, Scott was brought in to help fill the void.
But make no mistake - this isn’t just a short-term patch. This is a developmental swing.
Scott joins a group of young, hybrid-style tight ends that Peters has been quietly stockpiling. Yankoff is a converted quarterback.
Lawrence Cager was once a wide receiver. Tyree Jackson, another QB-turned-tight end, has struggled to stay healthy but brings intriguing size and athleticism.
These aren’t just bodies - they’re experiments in progress. And Peters seems committed to finding his own version of Kyle Juszczyk, the do-it-all fullback/tight end hybrid who was a Swiss Army knife in San Francisco.
Ben Sinnott, a rookie already drawing comparisons to Juszczyk, is expected to be a key piece moving forward. He’s under contract through 2027 and has shown flashes of being that moveable chess piece.
John Bates, the team’s lone traditional blocking tight end, was extended earlier this year and is locked in through the next two seasons. But the rest of the room?
It’s wide open.
Building the Future, One Flex at a Time
Scott’s signing doesn’t just plug a hole - it reflects a clear offensive philosophy. Peters and Kingsbury aren’t looking for another Bates.
They’re building a tight end room that can stretch the field, shift across formations, and create mismatches in space. That means F tight ends, flex players, H-backs - whatever you want to call them - are going to play a bigger role in this offense.
Scott has the tools to carve out a niche if he can develop the blocking and physicality required at the next level. Over the final three weeks of the season, he’ll have a chance to show what he can do on the practice field - and potentially earn a futures contract heading into the offseason.
It’s a low-risk move with upside. And more importantly, it’s another piece in a puzzle that’s starting to take shape.
The Commanders aren’t just filling roster spots. They’re building an identity - and Gee Scott Jr. might just be part of it.