4 winners (and 3 losers) from Commanders' preseason loss at NY Jets

Loser No. 1

Riley Patterson - Commanders K

The Washington Commanders scooped up veteran kicker Riley Patterson off the waiver wire following his departure from the Jacksonville Jaguars. This provided competition for Ramiz Ahmed after his wayward start to life with the team. However, it doesn't seem as if he'll become a genuine starting-caliber possibility all things considered.

Patterson started well enough over the first few days of training camp. It's been a steady decline since then, with the former Memphis star missing his only field goal attempt in perfect weather conditions at MetLife Stadium versus the New York Jets.

Although Ahmed made his field goal effort count from 40 yards, this is a fluid situation. There's a good chance Washington's starting kicker in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn't on the roster right now. They have the No. 2 waiver wire priority, so general manager Adam Peters will be scouring the options available before deciding on his next move.

It would be a shock if Patterson was their chosen kicker based on his sample size so far. There's still time for that to change, but the Commanders won't hesitate to cut him loose if a better option becomes available.

Winner No. 2

Ben Sinnott - Commanders TE

The Commanders are expecting big things from their rookie class in 2024. Ben Sinnott is one of the more intriguing prospects picked up by general manager Adam Peters. Looking at his first taste of legitimate NFL action, it's not hard to see why.

Sinnott's got the tools to potentially become the total package over time. He put these on full display against the New York Jets - something that only whets the appetite further about what the second-round selection could accomplish as a rookie.

The Kansas State product's blocking was as advertised. There was also a lot to like about Sinnott's body control, assured hands, and ability to generate yards after the catch. He finished as the Commanders' leading receiver, bringing in all three of his targets for 57 receiving yards.

It was a relatively small sample size with targets going everywhere as part of the coaching staff's ongoing evaluations. However, this confirmed Sinnott's potential to become a matchup problem and a significant long-term upgrade at the tight-end position.

The physical attributes are there to be special, perhaps much sooner than most anticipate. Learning from an established veteran such as Zach Ertz is only going to help Sinnott flourish.