The roster battles are getting heated as the Washington Commanders get well into training camp. But one player perceived to be on the fringes is starting to look like a lock.
And he may be even more than that.
It's hard not to be impressed by the way tight end Colson Yankoff has gone about his business this summer. The 2024 undrafted free agent has done well to carve out a special-teams role for himself over the last two seasons. However, his constant flashes in the passing game will not go unnoticed by new offensive coordinator David Blough.
Colson Yankoff is making some serious noise at Commanders camp
There doesn't seem to be a practice that goes by without Yankoff making an exceptional catch. He's gaining more trust, tracking the football much more effectively, and improving his timing to get to his spots.
Yank. Again.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 11, 2026
Yankoff has been an afterthought in the passing attack since joining the Commanders. But with Blough aiming to use tight ends more frequently within his schematic concepts, there is an avenue to more opportunities.
The Commanders have a TE1 who'll lead the charge in free-agent signing Chig Okonkwo. He'll be the focal point, with John Bates as the primary blocker and 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott as a complementary piece.
Yankoff is still behind them, but his prospects are strengthening.
With Bates out through injury and Okonkwo unlikely to feature much in the preseason, the Commanders can get Yankoff heavily involved in their warm-up slate.
Strong preseason could help Colson Yankoff increase his Commanders role
They know what he can do on special teams, and he is showing encouraging progress as a blocker. How he steps up when targets come his way in a game-day environment is the big unknown, and there will never be a better chance for Yankoff to showcase what he can bring to the table.
I don’t know how it has to work, but the Commanders have to keep Colson Yankoff.
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) August 11, 2026
He catches everything and is an elite athlete. He’s a weapon in space and in the red zone.
He's clearly brimming with confidence right now. Yankoff is seizing the moment, getting noticed for all the right reasons, and demonstrating the sort of growth that the Commanders are always eager to reward.
Talk of Yankoff not making the roster is now a distant memory, especially as the Commanders have taken through four tight ends every year under the current regime. But if he keeps this positive momentum going when big moments come his way in the preseason, that might be enough for Blough to get him more involved in the offensive lineup.
Yankoff is a feel-good story. The Commanders saw something in the UCLA product to make him a high-priority target when the 2024 draft concluded. He's fought hard to stay relevant, and he might be ready to take the next step.
Everyone in Washington has to earn it this time around. Previous reputations don't matter, and every player starts with a clean slate after last season's capitulation. Those who fail to meet the desired targets won't last. Those who do will get their chances to impress when the real action begins.
After a rags-to-riches surge this summer, Yankoff falls into the latter category. And he will be a player Commanders fans should monitor extremely closely when the preseason begins.
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