Hidden forces are powering the Commanders’ ground-game dominance

In an era where the tight end position is celebrated for receiving production and fantasy football appeal, the Washington Commanders are proving that the old-school version of the position still has a place in the modern game.

Through five weeks of the 2025 season, Washington’s rushing attack has emerged as one of the most physical, balanced, and creative in football. The foundation of that success has been the work of two players who rarely make highlight reels — John Bates and Ben Sinnott.

Together, they’ve become the unsung catalysts of an offensive identity built on toughness and versatility.

Washington’s run game, led by rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, has been one of the most efficient in football, thanks in large part to Bates and Sinnott functioning as extensions of the offensive line. They’ve made it possible for the Commanders to attack defenses inside the tackles, on the perimeter, and through motion-heavy concepts that use both tight ends as movable chess pieces.

John Bates is the Commanders' tone-setter upfront

At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Bates is the kind of tight end who could have played in any era of football. He’s not flashy, and he’s not a highlight-chasing pass catcher — but if you’re building a running game from the ground up, he’s the player you want setting the edge.

Bates has developed into arguably the most underrated blocking tight end in the NFL. There’s a growing case that he belongs in the same conversation with the likes of George Kittle, the premier in-line blocker at the position. His ability to play with leverage, strike with violence, and maintain balance through contact is exceptional.

He doesn’t just occupy defenders; he eliminates them.

Turn on the film, and Bates is everywhere. One snap, he’s sealing off a 4i-tech defensive end to spring an inside zone run for Chris Rodriguez Jr. Next, he’s climbing to the second level to erase a linebacker, or driving a cornerback 10 yards downfield on an outside toss. His willingness to stick his face in the mud has made him the backbone of Washington’s offensive identity.

The Commanders’ success running behind Bates is no coincidence. On plays where he’s aligned in-line on the right side of the formation, Washington has averaged among the league’s highest yards per carry marks. He’s essentially a sixth offensive lineman on the field, but with the mobility to pull, fold, or reach depending on the call.

His versatility as a blocker allows the Commanders to use a wide range of zone and gap concepts without telegraphing their intentions.

For head coach Dan Quinn, who preaches physicality and solving problems with aggression on both sides of the ball, Bates embodies the kind of effort and toughness that sets the tone for the entire roster. He’s the type of player you notice more when you study the tape than when you look at a box score — the exact kind of player the team is built around.

Ben Sinnott is carving out a niche for himself in Year 2

While Bates has been the steady, old-school anchor, Sinnott represents the modern complement — a younger tight end with hybrid athleticism who can move around the formation, but has embraced the dirty work with equal enthusiasm.

A second-year player out of Kansas State, Sinnott entered the league with a reputation as a flexible “F” tight end — someone who could line up in space, catch passes, and attack mismatches.

While the Commanders haven’t yet featured him heavily as a receiver, his growth as a blocker and tone-setter has been impossible to ignore.

Sinnott has been used everywhere: inline, in motion, at H-back depth, and even flexed into the slot as a lead blocker in perimeter screen looks. His ability to block in space — particularly against safeties and corners — has helped extend runs that might otherwise die at the edge.

That adaptability has allowed Washington’s run game to flourish despite personnel shifts and new names up front. Sinnott’s willingness to embrace his role has made him a key part of a system that relies on multiplicity. Tight ends aren’t just blockers or receivers, but interchangeable tools to create leverage and confusion.

As Croskey-Merritt continues to evolve in the backfield, Sinnott’s presence offers a unique upside. He’s a player who can align anywhere, motion late to change defensive fits, and still deliver a violent block. That’s invaluable in a run game that ranks among the top in the league in explosive runs and yards after contact through five games.

Commanders are building a physical identity, and everyone is buying in

Washington’s offense isn’t built around finesse. It’s built around violence, control, and sustainability. These traits are reflected in how it attacks defenses from every angle.

Behind Bates and Sinnott, the Commanders have rolled out a rotation of backs, including Jayden Daniels, who adds an explosive dimension as a designed runner. Together, they’ve turned Washington into one of the hardest teams in the league to prepare for when they are firing on all cylinders.

That success starts with alignment and effort.

Washington's front five has consistently won leverage battles at the point of attack, giving backs clean reads and consistent cutback lanes. And then you add in Bates and Sinnott, whether it’s outside zone, power, or counter, both players have been integral in setting edges and creating movement.

In a league where most teams are chasing explosive plays through the air, the Commanders are proving that dominance on the ground still wins — especially when your tight ends play like offensive linemen with athletic upside.

As the Commanders continue to develop under Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Bates and Sinnott have become foundational pieces for what’s taking shape as one of the NFL’s most balanced offenses. They’re culture carriers — players who embody the effort, toughness, and detail that define who Washington is.

Bates, now in his fifth season, has evolved into a quiet leader whose workmanlike approach demands respect in the locker room. Sinnott, still ascending, is learning the physical and mental demands of a position that requires everything from route precision to trench warfare.

Together, they’ve elevated Washington’s offense into one of the league’s most efficient and physical rushing attacks. And in doing so, they’ve reminded everyone watching that sometimes the most significant impact players are the ones doing the least glamorous work.