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The Washington Commanders lost their first game of the season to the Philadelphia Eagles, and they also lost tight end Chig Okonkwo.
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Okonkwo exited the game against the Eagles in the third quarter with a hamstring injury, and his status moving forward remains unknown. Given Okonkwo’s uncertain status, the Commanders have been urged to bring back a familiar face at tight end.
Commanders Urged to Bring Back Veteran Tight End Zach Ertz
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay named the Commanders as the best fit for veteran tight end Zach Ertz, who remains unsigned with the season officially underway. Ertz played the last two seasons of his career in Washington with the Commanders, so he’s already familiar with the organization and quarterback Jayden Daniels, which could make a reunion relatively smooth.
“If Okonkwo is out for a stretch—and hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky—Washington will be forced to ask John Bates to fill void and promote Ben Sinnott into a backup role. Unfortunately for the Commanders, neither player is a serious receiving threat, with each lacking the unique combination of size, speed and hands that Okonkwo brings to the table,” Kay wrote.
“Rather than enter a pivotal Week 2 clash against the Dallas Cowboys with an underwhelming tight end situation, it would behoove the Commanders to reunite with former starter Zach Ertz. Although the 13-year veteran remains unsigned, he could still provide a major boost to this offense without needing much time to get brought up to speed.”
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At 35 years old, Ertz is past his prime, but he’s still a productive player. He caught 50 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns for Washington last season.
Commanders Need a Win Against Cowboys in Week 2
After losing the season opener to a division rival in the Eagles, the Commanders have a second straight divisional battle against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. The Commanders don’t want to start the season 0-2, especially not with two losses within the division. So, the game will be an extremely important one, even though it’s so early in the season.
The Cowboys are in the exact same boat as the Commanders after losing their season-opener to the New York Giants, so expect both teams to enter the matchup highly motivated.
The game between the Commanders and Cowboys is set to kickoff Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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This story was originally published September 17, 2026 at 2:33 PM.