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The Commanders Tight End That Could Cost Others a Roster Spot
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- The Commanders Tight End That Could Cost Others a Roster Spot
The tight end room in Washington looks very different in 2026 than it did in 2025. With Chig Okonkwo now the primary target , the days of an aging Zach Ertz leading the pack are over . Behind Okonkwo are three interesting players who could each become playmakers in their own right. An undrafted free agent in 2024, Colson Yankoff flew under the radar for most of that season but is finally breaking out in training camp in 2026 .
During his first two seasons,Kliff Kingsbury was the offensive coordinatorand leaned on 11 personnel more often than not, leaving most of the tight ends out of the equation. Appearing in 20 games, Yankoff has racked up 18 total yards of offense on two receptions, both first downs. Now with David Blough calling the shots on offense , Yankoff and other tight ends are expected to become bigger pieces of the offense in more aggressive downfield pushes through play-action calls.
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"I think for me, every year is just I want to make sure I'm continuing to improve and iterate," Yankoff told John Doran . "Every year I feel like for me at this position I know what I don't know more and more. So I can train even better and more intelligently in the offseasons, be a little more targeted in what I'm trying to accomplish, and hopefully that'll show itself on the field."
Oct 21, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Colson Yankoff (7) during halftime against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Can Washington carry four tight ends?
Throughout training camp, Yankoff has raised his stock to make the final roster with several strong plays in short-yardage and red-zone situations. He has had remarkable catches in 50-50 situations and in open space. On July 30, Nicki Jhabvala noted that "Colson Yankoff just had the best catch of Commanders camp."
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Currently the second-string tight end behind John Bates , Yankoff faces a road ahead that won't be easy. Sitting behind Bates and Ben Sinnott , he has little room left on the roster given how deep the cornerback and offensive line groups are expected to be.
Typically an NFL roster carries three tight ends, meaning Yankoff would just miss the cut. An easy candidate for the practice squad, Yankoff needs to prove that the value he brings to the offense outweighs that of other players who could serve as depth pieces.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
