Commanders sign tight end as uncertainty remains with Logan Thomas

Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas remains sidelined with a calf injury. Thomas has been out of practice since last week. He didn’t even dress for Washington’s preseason win against the Cleveland Browns on Friday.

Now the Commanders are moving forward by signing tight end Kaden Smith on Sunday. The move indicates that Thomas’ absence could continue. At this point, even if the 32-year-old is healthy, holding out of the preseason seems logical.

Meanwhile, Smith played three seasons with the New York Giants from 2019-2021. He appeared in 33 games, including 22 starts, hauling 52 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns. A knee injury landed him on the injured reserve towards the end of the 2021 season.

The Giants waived Smith in March of 2022 after failing a physical. Smith didn’t play last season before entering this year’s off-season activities with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts released Smith on Aug. 1.

A signing like Smith usually signals a camp body. That may very well be the case. However, for the Commanders, the signing is more concerning for a team that ignored the tight end position this offseason.

Washington was steadfast in relying on their returning players at the position. The Commanders didn’t bring in a viable option even after Armani Rogers went down for the year with a torn Achilles in May.

When healthy, Logan Thomas is the leader of the pack. However, health hasn’t been on his side since a breakout 2020 season. Thomas played just six games in 2021. First, a hamstring injury sidelined him, and later he tore his ACL on a brutal hit by Yannick Ngakoue.

Last season, Thomas missed three games with a calf injury. But his play seemed affected by returning from the ACL injury. He had a pedestrian 39 receptions, 323 yards, and one receiving touchdown.

Washington’s 2021 draft pick John Bates has looked more like a blocking tight end. He is limited in the passing game. In Friday’s preseason win over the Browns, Bates dropped a wide-open pass from quarterback Sam Howell on the opening series.

A holding penalty would have negated the catch, but that didn’t save criticism of Bates’ drop.

The Commanders also have 2022 draft pick Cole Turner. He’s flashed when on the field. Against the Browns, Turner had four catches for 31 yards. If Thomas is unavailable, Turner is likely the frontrunner as the primary receiving tight end.

Smith may be an insurance policy. He’s got the experience that Bates, Turner, and Curtis Hodges don’t have. He’ll have to prove his health and progress enough to impress coaches over the next two weeks before final cuts on Aug. 29.