The Washington Commanders have three games left, but general manager Adam Peters is already planning for the future. And his latest understated signing could offer a window into how the offense might look in 2026.
Apparently, the word “flex” is too cumbersome for NFL writers and scouts. That must be why what we used to call a flex tight end is now an F tight end. The other older nomenclature — a “move” tight end — seems entirely out of fashion.
Whether you call it F, flex, or move, the Commanders just added another one to their practice squad.
Gee Scott Jr., who played for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes last year, joined the ranks. He becomes the seventh tight end under contract, spread across the practice squad, injured list, and the 53-man roster. And he continues a rather evident trend that has been in effect ever since Peters arrived.
Commanders' newest tight end signals the type of offense they intend to build
The immediate reason for bringing in a player like Scott is injury. Primary tight end Zach Ertz is out for the remainder of the season. Backup Colson Yankoff, one of just three tight ends on the current roster, hurt his ankle last week against the New York Giants and may not be able to suit up this week. Kliff Kingsbury likes using tight ends. As of now, he may have just two ready to go versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
That's why Scott got the call.
Scott fits the F profile perfectly. By current tight end standards, he is undersized. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, he looks more like a fullback, or perhaps a larger wide receiver, than a modern tight end.
That is because Scott entered college as a wide receiver. During his recruiting, some scouting services had him pegged as the 12th-best wideout in the country. Ohio State was loaded at the position, and the Buckeye prototype was long, lean, and lightning fast. During his second year in Columbus, he made the switch.
He did not produce many stats during his time at Ohio State. Scouts recognized that he would need time to learn the nuances of his new position. But they all saw his potential.
His 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash makes him one of the fastest tight ends in the league. Scott has a receiver’s hands and route-running skill. The New England Patriots, who prize multiple tight-end sets as much as anyone, scooped him up after the 2025 draft, but Scott couldn't crack the crowded situation before his eventual release.
Scott needs time and coaching to develop at the NFL level, but it is easy to imagine what Peters sees in him. He has been searching for a Commanders version of Kyle Juszczyk ever since he arrived. Ben Sinnott and Yankoff have both been compared to the San Francisco 49ers' Pro Bowl fullback, but thus far, neither has performed anywhere near that level.
The other developmental tight ends currently under contract include converted quarterback Tyree Jackson and converted wide receiver Lawrence Cager. The former has the body to be a Y, or an inline, tight end, but he has had trouble staying healthy. John Bates remains the only traditional blocking tight end on the roster.
With the signing of Scott, it doesn’t appear that Peters is all that interested in finding a new Bates. He was extended this year and is under contract for two more seasons. Sinnott will also be on his rookie deal through 2027. They project to be the Commanders’ primary tight ends moving forward.
Now they have added another young developmental player to challenge Yankoff and the others for a role behind Sinnott as a classic F. Over the next three weeks, Scott has an excellent opportunity to show what he can do and earn a futures deal when the season ends.