The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
We’re nearing the first preseason game on the Washington Commanders’ schedule, but they’ve already had one of their biggest tests of training camp with the joint practice against the Miami Dolphins.
There was a lot to digest throughout the morning with the teams using both fields, and it’s understandable that fans scouring social media for updates didn’t get a full picture of the action. Most reporters would agree that Washington looked like the better team on both sides of the ball, but fans want more detail than that, which is where I come into the equation.
So, I asked fans on social media what they wanted to know more about after Wednesday’s practice, and this is what I got:
@32BeatWriters: How did the tight end room do overall and how was each tight end utilized?
I thought the tight end room was solid, although I’ll admit that the tight ends were not used much in the passing game during the offensive periods that I watched (team red zone, third-down emphasis and two-minute). Here’s what I will say: Chig Okonkwo and Lawrence Cager stood out to me, just as they have throughout camp. Okonkwo just feels like a natural fit for Washington’s offense and gets open often. He had a nice catch during two-minute drills near the sideline with no one around him, and that’s a credit to his ability to create separation with his routes.
Cager has shown noticeable growth this offseason, and it feels like he and Colson Yankoff are having a good battle for a potential fourth tight end spot. Cager has some physical tools that he’s used to his advantage as a blocker and receiver.
As for how each tight end was utilized, I feel like the roles were what we’ve seen to this point. Okonkwo is the best pass-catcher in the bunch for sure, while players like Cager, Yankoff and Ben Sinnott were a little of both with upside receivers.
