7 Commanders players who need extended reps in 2023 regular-season finale

Cole Turner - Commanders TE

After a washout rookie season, Washington Commanders tight end Cole Turner looked very good in the 2023 preseason. He showed the ability to find gaps in the middle of zones and demonstrated good hands. Promising signs entering Year 2 of his professional career.

This is what fans thought they were getting when the Commanders spent a fifth-round pick on him in 2022. However, once the season began, Turner was practically invisible.

Logan Thomas and John Bates continued to get the lion’s share of the snaps at tight end despite very limited production. A quality receiving option at the position would have been a godsend for second-year quarterback Sam Howell earlier this year, but Turner still averaged fewer than 10 offensive snaps per game.

We have all seen this season how quickly a group of rookie tight ends - led by, but hardly limited to, Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions - have hit the ground running. The Commanders passed on a lot of quality tight ends last season, presumably because they thought Turner had a future. It’s time to see if he does.

That's why giving him extended reps in their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys is so crucial. Turner might capitalize on his increased responsibilities to provide hope for the future. If not, it's back to the drawing board for Washington.