Commanders 2026 training camp preview: Tight end

Who will finish second on the Washington Commanders in receiving in 2026? Assuming he's healthy, wide receiver Terry McLaurin is due for a bounce-back season after the first injury-marred season of his NFL career. He will lead the way as usual.

So, who will be quarterback Jayden Daniels' second-most targeted receiver in 2026? How about tight end Chig Okonkwo? The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Okonkwo signed with Washington this offseason after a four-year run in Tennessee, where he caught 194 passes. Now, the 26-year-old is set to replace Zach Ertz as the Commanders' tight end. As we know, Daniels likes throwing to his tight ends, as Ertz finished second on the team in all receiving categories in 2024 and second in receptions, touchdowns, and targets in 2025.

With all of the talk about Washington signing a veteran receiver before Week 1, it's quite possible they like the group already in the building. One reason the Commanders may be comfortable with their pass catchers is because of the tight end position. The group has depth, and new offensive coordinator David Blough will use tight ends differently than former OC Kliff Kingsbury.

With training camp set to open next week, let's look at Washington's running back situation ahead of training camp.

On the roster

• Chig Okonkwo
• John Bates
• Ben Sinnott
• Colson Yankoff
• Lawrence Cager
• Anthony Firkser
• Quentin Moore

It was surprising when the Commanders signed Firkser this offseason, considering the depth they already have at the position. This is a deep and versatile room, with each of the top players offering something different. Cager is another player the coaching staff has repeatedly praised this offseason.

Roster locks

• Chig Okonkwo
• John Bates
• Ben Sinnott

I was very tempted to include Yankoff here. He's made it each of the last two years, first as an undrafted rookie. Yankoff is big and athletic, can play multiple positions, and excels on special teams. Many feel Yankoff still has untapped upside. I'd lean to him being safe, but much of it depends on how many tight ends Washington keeps. The Commanders have kept four the past two seasons.

Training camp battle to watch

• Lawrence Cager vs. Colson Yankoff

Is this a real battle? Well, if we are to believe everything Dan Quinn tells us about competition, then yes. The Commanders have praised Cager multiple times. He offers good size (6-foot-5) and is a former receiver, so with a new offense, it's possible that Blough sees him as a potential receiving option in Washington's new-look offense. Yankoff is an intriguing player. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is still learning to play tight end after playing wide receiver and running back at UCLA. This could be one of the team's top under-the-radar battles this summer.

One burning question

• Will Ben Sinnott have a breakout season?

Many believed that when Washington signed Okonkwo, it was essentially admitting that Sinnott was a failed second-round pick. That couldn't have been further from the truth. Sinnott wasn't a clean fit for what Kingsbury wanted to do. And with Ertz in front of him, he wasn't going to unseat him with Kingsbury calling the shots. Okonkwo and Sinnott will serve different roles. Blough will use him more. He'll line up at multiple spots. If you listen to GM Adam Peters after the 2024 NFL Draft, he mentioned Sinnott's versatility and athleticism. Peters believed he was more of a weapon than just a traditional inline tight end. Sinnott's progress should be interesting to watch.

Outlook

Ertz is a tough loss for Daniels. The veteran offered nothing after the catch, but was reliable. Daniels counted on him in every situation, and Ertz mostly delivered. Can Okonkwo be that reliable? We do know he'll offer more after the catch. Okonkwo has been productive, but Washington believes he can have a breakout year with Daniels throwing to him. Bates remains one of the NFL's top blocking tight ends and he'll be on the field a lot. Sinnott can play tight end, line up in the backfield, or in the slot. It should be fun to see how Blough utilizes him this season.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders 2026 training camp preview: Tight end