What has happened to the Washington Commanders tight ends?
This past offseason, we heard a lot about two Commanders tight ends who were going to step up and make major contributions to the team’s offensive success this season. Commanders GM Adam Peters pursued and signed tight end Chig Okonkwo during the first week of the free agency signing period. The former Maryland Terrapin had spent his first four NFL years with the Tennessee Titans, starting 42 games and hauling in 194 completions for 2,017 receiving yards (10.4 YPR) and eight receiving touchdowns.
Secondly, there was much excitement about what third-year tight end Ben Sinnott would do in 2026. More than enough criticism was loaded on board and directed at former Commanders offensive coordinator
Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury was being caricatured as an OC who didn’t really understand the NFL, NFL offense, or the running game.
Well, over four weeks, the tight ends' production has been anything but stellar. Okonkwo has been targeted only 7 times. But do keep in mind Okonkwo was injured in the opener, missed weeks 2 & 3, and returned last week (Colts). John Bates and Colson Yankoff have been targeted four times, and Sinnott only twice.
One example of how Chig Okonkwo hasn't gotten it going yet.
— Martenzie Johnson (@10zJohnson) October 7, 2026
I assume this is supposed to be a rub route by Diggs but #57 just ... goes around it and Chig is never freed up for a big gain. Instead, just two yards pic.twitter.com/jcuSor5jRc
“Chig and Jayden spent all of training camp working together, so that is a big deal,” said head coach Dan Quinn on Wednesday. “We didn’t get as much of that so far this season. Part of the plan for last week got derailed in the game (Mariota injury). Having them back out at practice, back into the mix, I definitely see that trend going up.”
Yes, having Daniels (QB) and Okonkwo (TE) back working together should help at least those two. Quinn would love to, no doubt, see Daniels and his tight ends connecting Sunday vs. the Giants for the first tight end touchdown reception for the Commanders in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders lacking in tight end production through four weeks
