Have you ever wondered how you started thinking Ben Sinnott was going to be a stud?
During Thursday night’s Commanders
24-21 win over NFC East rival New York Giants, Sinnott was called upon and delivered four catches for 42 yards, including a touchdown reception and a 24-yard gain. The target of so much criticism for most of his three NFL seasons from the media and Commanders fan base, Sinnott raised eyebrows Thursday.He had the game we have been expecting, the game we have been waiting for. Instead, we have all grown increasingly frustrated. Some have gone as far as actually calling Sinnott ’a bust.’
Where did the expectations begin? Well, no doubt the first contributing factor is due to Commanders GM Adam Peters drafting Sinnott so high in 2024.
With three second-round picks, Peters selected Johnny Newton (36), Mike Sainristil (50), and Sinnott (53). None of the three have lived up to being drafted in the second round.
During the 2024 preseason, Sinnott made a play where his ‘legend’ began. In the very first preseason game, facing the Jets, the score tied 7-7 in the second quarter; Sinnott caught a Jeff Driskel pass at the Jets’ 48 in the middle of the field. Sinnott then bounced off the NY Jets and dragged them all the way down to the Jets’ 22-yard line. It was amazing to watch.
Commanders really have a young TE now in Ben Sinnott that is going to be fun to watch. pic.twitter.com/QDj7rX8sXy
— Zac (@DCzWall) August 11, 2024
As a result, Sinnott was going to be a starter; he was going to be a stud. Sinnott was going to be another Chris Cooley. All of Commanders Nation was excited. Imagine how Dan Quinn and Adam Peters felt after watching that play.
But in 2024, Sinnott was targeted only five times, for five receptions and 28 yards. 28 yards in 17 games? 11 receptions for 114 yards followed in 2025, and even following Thursday night, he has only five receptions for 48 yards.
During the Giants’ game on Thursday, Grant Paulsen of 106.7 the Fan tweeted jokingly that Sinnott ‘was George Kittle all along’. After the game, Paulsen tweeted, “Happy Ben Sinnott day to all!”
Perhaps not noticed by many, there was one play when Sinnott was lined up as the left tight end and had Edge Abdul Carter over him. At the snap, Carter bursts to the inside of Sinnott. Just as it appears Carter is going to get ahead of Sinnott inside, Sinnott explodes inward and blasts Carter into the ground. It was a beautiful block for a tight end. Okay, I looked for it, and I am thankful to Mark Tyler over at Hogs Haven for noticing and then posting Sinnott’s huge block.
Watch Ben Sinnott at the top of the screen clean the ⏰ of the DE😱 pic.twitter.com/Vvju2f7QI4
— Tiller56 (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) November 13, 2026
Sinnott can be most effective in the middle of the field, more so than out on the perimeter. He can do real damage when his shoulders are square, and he is running hard forward, not side to side. After last night, many of us are now hoping OC David Blough and QB Jayden Daniels will want to go back to Sinnott more often.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Is Commanders TE Ben Sinnott on the verge of a breakout?
