Chig Okonkwo won't suit up for the Washington Commanders in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. That means it's now or never for third-year tight end Ben Sinnott in his quest for more involvement.
The Commanders will elevate John Bates to the TE1 role in Okonkwo's absence. However, it would be extremely disappointing if Sinnott wasn't more involved, especially after his bold offseason comments.
Sinnott didn't show much in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, even after Okonkwo left the game.
Ben Sinnott has to seize with moment if Commanders get him more involved
He played just 26 percent of the team's offensive snaps and wasn't targeted in the passing game. Not exactly what the Kansas State product had in mind for Year 3 of his professional career, but a lack of trust remains in his ability to come through when it matters most.
This is a problem. And fans will know for sure what the Commanders really think of Sinnott at AT&T Stadium.
If Sinnott stays on the fringes, even in Okonkwo's absence, that will be a body blow to his chances of carving out a long career in Washington. But if he gets more involved and shines whenever his number is called, hope may not be lost yet.
Bates is serviceable, but he is seen more as a blocking specialist than a prolific pass-catching tight end.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels needs a physical outlet who can provide relief across the middle. Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, and third-round rookie Antonio Williams will be integral, but Sinnott could be an intriguing wild card for offensive coordinator David Blough to play.
And if Sinnott gets early targets, he cannot waste them.
Otherwise, it's hard to say what the future holds for him.
Ben Sinnott could become a surprise the Cowboys don't see coming in Week 2
The Commanders selected Sinnott at No. 53 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He wasn't the finished article by any stretch of the imagination, but they believed he could become a total package with a little extra development and learning behind Zach Ertz.
That hasn't happened yet. And even though Sinnott is confident he can make a bigger impact, his lack of usage in Week 1 painted a very different picture.
Sinnott has been largely dependable as a pass-catching asset. It's a limited sample size over the last two years, but he has brought in 88.9 percent of his targets.
The trouble is the lack of consistent volume. With the stakes so high for Washington in Dallas, Blough may decide to rely more on experience.
It'll be fascinating to watch Sinnott in Week 2, both in how he's deployed and how much he can contribute. The Cowboys will be more focused on stopping other offensive playmakers, so there could be space to make things happen if Blough can scheme his game plan effectively.
But if he is on the fringes, that will tell fans all they need to know about how Sinnott's progress is being perceived by those in positions of power.
Sinnott was saying all the right things this summer. Now he could get the chance to back up the talk.
And if he can, Sinnott will quickly become a surprise the Cowboys won't see coming.
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