Ben Sinnott - Commanders TE
It would be surprising if Chig Okonkwo featured for the Washington Commanders this weekend. The dynamic tight end hasn't practiced over the first two days and missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury, so the Washington Commanders may have to rely on others once again.
Ben Sinnott got more involvement with Okonkwo on the sidelines against the Dallas Cowboys. The 2024 second-round pick played 67.6 percent of the team's offensive snaps, but he was targeted only once, catching it for six receiving yards.
There is something missing with Sinnott right now.
Head coach Dan Quinn likes his athleticism and believes more opportunities will come to shine in the passing game as the season goes on. But with veteran backup Marcus Mariota under center for the foreseeable future, the Commanders desperately need a security blanket across the middle.
Washington has Stefon Diggs and third-round rookie Antonio Williams to provide this relief, but Sinnott must also force the issue against a vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense.
This comes down to trust.
Until David Blough fully trusts Sinnott to come through, he'll be an afterthought compared to others. But if he keeps stacking small wins and makes the most of his increased time on the field, he might be a surprise Seattle doesn't see coming.
And he's worked a lot with Mariota over the summer, which will only help Sinnott's case.
Tyler Owens - Commanders S
After Tyler Owens gained national attention for his exceptional special-teams contribution in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, fans were intrigued to see if this would finally give him reps in the defensive rotation. Daronte Jones opted not to get the athletic safety involved at all against the Dallas Cowboys, which was a strange choice.
Owens has the size and speed to make a difference. He remains something of an unknown quantity, but the player is not going to improve or prove himself if he doesn't get a chance.
That has to come this weekend against the Seahawks.
The safety unit is not playing well. Their only consistent performer, free-agent signing Nick Cross, will miss Week 3 after suffering an internal injury in Dallas. Jeremy Reaves is struggling, as is Quan Martin. Neither can be trusted, so the Commanders have to give Owens a shot.
If it doesn't work out, so what?
Owens will go back to being a special-teams ace, and nobody is expecting the Commanders to beat the defending Super Bowl champions. And if not now for the Texas Tech product, then when?
The Commanders desperately need a defensive spark. Perhaps Owens can provide it with his unique blend of aggression and dynamism.
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