Stats to know
— Although Ertz missed the last four games of the season, he still ranked third on the team in yards (504) and second in receptions (50). Ertz caught his 816th career pass in Week 13, moving him up to fifth all-time in receptions among tight ends.
— Fans are still waiting for Sinnott to have a breakout performance, but he did see an increase in his snap count once Ertz suffered his season-ending injury. He played in over half the snaps in each of the last four games of the season, including a career-high 68% against the Philadelphia Eagles. Sinnott got at least one target in each of the last five games and had 81 yards.
Questions to answer
— What happens to the future of the tight end room? Ertz tore his ACL against the Vikings, and with the injury happening near the end of the season, the likelihood of him being ready in September is low. Ertz is also about to be a free agent, leaving a hole at the top of the position for someone to fill. The Commanders aren’t ruling out either Bates, Yankoff or Sinnott stepping up to fill that role, but it’s also possible that Washington could address the position in free agency or the draft. The Commanders had the oldest roster in the NFL last season, and while Ertz offers a rare skill set, his potential absence could give them a chance to reset with a younger option.
— What’s next for Sinnott? A 2024 second-round pick, Sinnott was the second tight end taken in his class with the expectation that he could develop into an all-around player. He could still be that player at some point, although his path has been a bit longer than anticipated by fans. He had just five receptions as a rookie and 11 in 2025, although the coaching staff believes they have seen steady progress from him in other areas of his skill set. Assuming Ertz is not ready for the start of the season or does not re-sign with Washington, it would provide Sinnott with more opportunities to get more reps and continue his development.