The Washington Commanders ruled out tight end Chig Okonkwo with a hamstring injury for Sunday’s game at Dallas. Ben Sinnott is in line for a bigger role.
Okonkwo was hurt in his Commanders debut, a 24-22 loss at Philadelphia. He left late in the third quarter after catching two of three targets for 16 yards.
He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. On Friday he was on the field but not in uniform, working on a side field with the team’s rehab group.
Coach Dan Quinn said Okonkwo is working hard. The team will reassess him next week before a home game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Linebacker Frankie Luvu is also out.
Three tight ends remain, and the Week 1 snaps show how the work may split.
After Okonkwo left, John Bates played 70 percent of the fourth-quarter snaps and Sinnott played 45 percent. Colson Yankoff played 5 percent.
Bates is known mainly as a blocker. He caught two of three targets for 13 yards against the Eagles and has 74 career receptions with a 69.2 percent catch rate.
Sinnott, a third-year tight end, drew praise from coaches for his development in training camp.
Washington could also lean on its receivers. Treylon Burks was inactive in Week 1, but he has a frame similar to Okonkwo’s and made catches over the middle in camp.
Quinn said the active roster changes week to week.
“In this game we had five receivers and four tight ends, and other games that may switch around,” Quinn said. “Depending on the opponent, there could be some changes as that goes.”
Okonkwo joined Washington this offseason. He had been billed as a potential breakout piece in his first year with the team.
The Commanders are chasing their first win in a second straight division game. Dallas, meanwhile, lost its opener to the New York Giants.
Should Okonkwo return next week, Seattle visits Northwest Stadium on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. ET.
