Zach Ertz is no longer available for the Washington Commanders on Sundays, but his influence is still felt throughout the tight end room.
Ertz -- the first player general manager Adam Peters signed when he joined the team -- quickly became a key piece of the Commanders' offense, not just for his production on the field but also for the leadership and guidance he's provided for the rest of the roster. Despite an ACL tear ending his season early, Ertz is still going out of his way to help his younger teammates, and second-year pro Ben Sinnott wants to soak up as much of that information as he can.
"Being able to just pick his brain about anything; on the field, off the field," Sinnott said. "He taught me so much about the routine, the consistency with the work every day. He's a guy who's in the same spot at every time ... He has such a consistency about him."
Sinnott, a 2024 second-round pick, is one of the players who is expected to get more playing time now that Ertz is on Injured Reserve. That was the case during the Commanders' 29-21 win over the Giants; he played in 35 offensive snaps -- the second most of his career and most this season -- and made a 36-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Head coach Dan Quinn and the coaching staff noticed the work he put in to improve, and while the situation with Ertz wasn't ideal, they were excited about Sinnott getting more opportunities.
Ertz has played a pivotal role in the progress Sinnott has shown. He and 2024 undrafted free agent Colson Yankoff got extra work with Ertz in practice earlier in the season to improve the finer details of the position. Sinnott has learned a lot from just watching Ertz and learning about the nuances of how he likes to run certain routes and get open against different coverages. Those traits have been part of Ertz's calling card for years now. He's currently fifth all-time in receptions for a tight end with 825 catches for 8,592 yards.
Sinnott said he was "devastated" when he learned that Ertz would be done for the season but also excited that he would have the chance to "do what I know I can do." And he knew that Ertz would help him maximize him time on the field.
"He's a guy who helps all the time," Sinnott said. "My whole two years here, I've been able to just pick his brain and ask him anything."
Ertz and Sinnott have different skill sets, but it's clear that Ertz has had a positive impact on the young tight end. His 36-yard reception against the Giants -- the longest of his career so far -- is an example of that.
"It's something you practice a million times before you actually get out there," Sinnott said. "It was one of my favorite plays in my career. It was such a cool moment."
That was the only catch Sinnott made during the win, although it's worth noting that the Commanders' offense only had 10 completions in the passing game all afternoon. Still, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said he was "really proud" of the play.
"We got cover zero," Kingsbury said. "We hadn't shown him that look in that scenario with that personnel group. We weren't anticipating anything, but he [Sinnott] stuck his foot in the ground and created space, so it was a big-time play."
And while getting Sinnott more targets didn't work out against the Giants, the Commanders would still like to get him the ball more often.
"He's continued to progress," Kingsbury said, "and like I've said all along, when his opportunity has risen in the game, he's stepped up."
Sinnott won't be an Ertz replica for the final three games or next season, but with the tight end position playing a pivotal role in Washington's offense, the team does need to find a player who can replace that production. Sinnott could be the answer, and it helps that he has a potential future Hall of Famer in his corner.
And even though Ertz isn't part of the game plan anymore, he's still going out of his way to get Sinnott prepared for Sundays.
"He's like, 'Send me clips. What plays do you have questions about?'" Sinnott said of Ertz. "He wants to help, and it's been such a blessing to have a vet like him in my room."
