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Did Commanders TE Ben Sinnott take a shot at Kliff Kingsbury?
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- Did Commanders TE Ben Sinnott take a shot at Kliff Kingsbury?
Did Commanders TE Ben Sinnott take a shot at Kliff Kingsbury?
It's no secret that Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott was disappointing during his first two NFL seasons. The 2024 second-round pick has appeared in 33 games but has only 16 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
Part of Sinnott's issues over his first two seasons were out of his control. The Commanders had veteran Zach Ertz in front of him. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, a classmate of Sinnott's, loved having a reliable veteran outlet like Ertz. So, while Sinnott played, he would often be used as a blocker and never as a primary receiving option.
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That could change in 2026. Yes, the Commanders went out and signed former Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo to a three-year deal to replace Ertz, but they're also playing in a new offense. David Blough replaced Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. Kingsbury was a big fan of Ertz, having coached him in Arizona. As long as he was healthy, he was on the field.
While Kingsbury is considered a prolific offensive coach, he was also rooted in his tendencies. That's part of why Washington moved on from him. The Commanders wanted a more traditional style of offense for Daniels to continue to develop in.
It's early, but so far in training camp, we've seen Sinnott being more involved. Okonkwo, too. The Commanders also have John Bates, perhaps the NFL's best blocking tight end. It's a unique group.
Sinnott is excited about his role in Blough's offense.
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"So many different variations," Sinnott said , via John Keim of ESPN, in discussing the different route variations. "Today we're lining up at number one, we're running five-step ins, we're running corners, we're running options, we're running flat [routes]. We're just doing everything. It's so much fun. It's a breath of fresh air for this offense and how it uses tight ends."
Did you notice something there at the end? Did Sinnott take a subtle shot at Kingsbury? Whether he meant to or not, some Commanders' players are excited about the coordinator change. While we know Daniels didn't want to lose Kingsbury, his departure could be good for others, such as Sinnott.
Sinnott is expected to be one of Washington's more versatile offensive players in 2026. He can line up as a traditional tight end, in the slot, or in the backfield as a fullback.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Did Commanders TE Ben Sinnott take a shot at Kliff Kingsbury?
