This has been a disastrous season in every conceivable way for the Washington Commanders. And just when it looked like there might be some light at the end of their dark injury tunnel, they were dealt another devastating blow.
And it likely spells the end of veteran tight end Zach Ertz's time with the franchise.
Ertz took a nasty hit while in the air against the Minnesota Vikings, and it didn't look good from the outset. He left in tears on a cart, and his teammates were visibly emotional. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed everyone's worst fears, and the potential Pro Football Hall of Famer now faces a lengthy recovery from a torn ACL.
The Commanders will help him along the way, but it's highly unlikely general manager Adam Peters will give him another deal. Washington needs to get younger. There will never be a better time to do that at the tight-end spot. Not ideal, but this is all part of the NFL's ruthless business, where sentiment rarely factors in.
Which way Peters will go with his decision is anyone's guess. He needs to get it right, so here are seven possible options to help Washington's front-office leader along the way.
Players who could rise as the Commanders' answer after Zach Ertz in 2026
Commanders could promote Ben Sinnott
In an ideal world, Ben Sinnott will show enough over the Washington Commanders' final four games to warrant a legitimate chance to take over from Ertz in 2026. However, that is not a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination.
Sinnott's been something of an enigma since joining the Commanders as the No. 53 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's been used sparingly for the best part of two years. He's a complete non-factor in the passing game, and even though he's flashed as a blocker, something is preventing Washington's offensive staff from getting him heavily involved.
That has to change now.
The Commanders should be in evaluation mode. With Ertz no longer able to take his place in the lineup, the torch must be passed to Sinnott. And how the former Kansas State standout performs will go a long way to determining his overall outlook.
It's a journey into the unknown for everybody. Sinnott waited patiently for his chance. Now, it's arrived, and he must do everything in his power to grasp it with both hands.
Anything less, and the Commanders have a massive problem on their hands with a once highly touted prospect.