The Washington Commanders may take their offensive personnel in a new direction for the season’s closing stretch.
Hiring Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator immediately conjured three- and four-receiver sets in the minds of those familiar with his “Air Raid” background. Using 11 personnel — three receivers, one tight end, one running back — is the prominent base scheme this season. But two-tight end sets (12 personnel) are coming for the belt.
In Sunday’s 42-19 blowout of the Tennessee Titans, Kingsbury’s play calling had Washington using 12 personnel on 42.9 percent of the team’s 77 snaps — fourth in the league for Week 13. Tack on eight plays with three tight ends — Zach Ertz, John Bates and Ben Sinnott — and the formations with multiple players at the position topped three-receiver looks in a game for the first time this season.
Schemes change weekly depending on the opponent. Coach Dan Quinn’s Monday comments suggest this latest approach isn’t a one-off.
“We love all three of these tight ends. They’re not all the same (with) how we would use them within that same personnel group, but we do love those packages,” Quinn said. “I would say the trend on that is on the way up.”
There’s more glitz with wide receivers shifting across the formation and streaking downfield. This isn’t to say two tight ends make a strictly meat-and-potatoes offense. Four division leaders — the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles — are among the top eight teams in 12 and 13 personnel usage.
Along with the potent Baltimore Ravens attack, these teams take advantage of red zone size and additional big bodies for pass protection and run blocking.
“The advantage I see is getting your best players on the field and offering the most versatility,” former NFL tight end Logan Paulsen said.
The notion of “best” is ironic, as is Washington’s decision to lean into a position many viewed as one of the team’s weaker units entering last offseason. Signing the 34-year-old Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowler who has been limited by age and injuries, did not automatically raise expectations. The Commanders retained the blocking threat Bates and selected the versatile Sinnott in the second round.
Those pieces don’t form a massive part of the offensive puzzle, but their base skills are helpful for Kingsbury’s broader plan, now without injured dual-threat running back Austin Ekeler. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, running back Brian Robinson Jr. and wide receiver Terry McLaurin are the stars. The Commanders’ best chance at a productive offense comes when those three shine brightest.
“Ertz is one of your best receivers, and Bates is a good blocker,” said Paulsen, who is a Commanders analyst. “That pairing feels like 11 (personnel) but gives you more flexibility running the ball, and they can chip defensive linemen.”
According to TruMedia, Washington ranks 12th (35.6 percent) on the season with two or three tight ends and 12th in only two-tight end sets (28.6). The 42.9 percent usage against Tennessee in the first week of December far surpasses the team averages in September (22.9), October (27.3) and November (24.5). The same is true for the number of raw snaps (33).
Playing three tight ends on 10.4 percent of snaps versus the Titans exceeded the previous monthly averages, while deploying 11 personnel packages (46.8) fell below the 55-57 percent range over the opening three months.
The margin never dipping below 15 points against Tennessee could explain Washington’s use of more run-friendly formations in the second half. Yet the team used 12 personnel on a season-high 14 plays in the first half, and five of Washington’s six touchdowns in the 23-point romp were with two or three tight ends in formation. Daniels dazzled against the Titans with an 83.3 completion percentage and the first three-touchdown passing game of his rookie season.
Robinson scored with an expertly blocked 40-yard touchdown run in 12 personnel and had 103 of the team’s 267 rushing yards. His numbers in 12 personnel (5.8 yards per carry on 49 attempts, with 30.6 of those carries becoming first downs or touchdowns) top the 11 personnel data (4.2 yards per carry on 61 attempts, 21.3 resulting in first downs or TDs). The same applies when eliminating third- and fourth-down plays, which are often short yardage: Robinson averages 4.9 yards per rush on 44 attempts in early downs with two tight ends versus 3.6 with three receivers.
McLaurin’s season-high eight receptions included touchdown grabs of 16 and 3 yards. When he’s quiet, chunk plays tend to disappear. Washington’s non-McLaurin wide receivers are individually helpful in specific ways, but none warrant excessive snaps. Enter Ertz.
Washington’s top tight end is the opposite of fleet of foot and isn’t a blocking dynamo. His strength is that he creates space for targets and is a reliable pass catcher for Daniels. Only McLaurin (61) has more catches than Ertz (52) for the Commanders this season.
Pro Football Reference’s “success percentage” metric shows how effective a reception is based on yards gained against expectations for specific downs. Ertz’s 58.7 would establish a career best. His catch percentage (receptions divided by targets) of 69.3 percent is his highest since 2016. Ertz’s 4-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter versus Tennessee, which gave him 50 for his career, extended his scoring streak to three games.
Along with using the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Ertz as the third receiver with Bates (6-6, 259) or Sinnott (6-4, 247) on the field, the Commanders have big-bodied assistance for their tackles. Rookie Brandon Coleman has had the expected mix of good and poor performances at left tackle. Veterans Andrew Wylie, the starting right tackle, and Cornelius Lucas are solid but not heralded options.
Having two tight ends in tight or simply on the field lets Washington dictate the defensive personnel. Teams may switch from the widespread nickel (five defensive backs) to a standard 4-3 (or 3-4) accordingly. Bates and Sinnott, a potent blocker still developing his pass-catching instincts, primarily play “inline” — lining up next to a tackle or another tight end.
Ertz’s 33 snaps inline against Tennessee easily eclipsed his previous high of 23 in Week 4, per Pro Football Focus. He finished with three receptions on six targets for 35 yards. Despite running fewer routes (29), Ertz’s target percentage (20.7) matched or exceeded his previous two games.
Another dynamic aspect of this season involved blending Robinson’s and Ekeler’s diverse skills — and keeping two of the team’s best players on the field — in 21 personnel. Washington operated with two backs on 6.7 percent of plays, which is ninth.
The offensive plan changed when Washington placed Ekeler on injured reserve before the Titans game following his second concussion this year. Kingsbury made adjustments previously as injuries kept Robinson out three games and Ekeler one. None were as profound as the changes against a Tennessee defense that ranked first on third downs and among the league’s best in numerous categories.
Running backs Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are more in the mold of Robinson’s power than Ekeler’s pass-catching and shifty running style. Rather than shoehorn in the backups (combined two receptions on the season) against the Titans, Kingsbury did not run a single play with 21 personnel. Robinson’s pass blocking in the backfield stood out last week.
“You’re missing the guy that makes that personnel group better,” Paulsen said of Ekeler and two-running back looks, “so why keep using it?”
With Ekeler uncertain about returning this season, the change might be for the remaining four regular-season games and the playoffs should the 8-5 Commanders maintain their hold on a wild-card berth. None of Washington’s personnel groupings is deep with game-breaking talent, but there are ways Quinn and Kingsbury can tactically enhance their stars and the desire for complementary football.
Kingsbury had McLaurin, customarily planted on the quarterback’s far left, on the right side for a season-high nine snaps, including the 16-yard touchdown. The usage (13.8 percent of snaps) wasn’t McLaurin’s highest on the right side (14.3 in Week 3) but was more than during Washington’s recent three-game losing streak.
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Perhaps the Commanders find another running back playmaker in the 2025 NFL Draft. Quinn could elevate practice squad running backs Michael Wiley or Kazmeir Allen to highlight speed now. Wide receiver Noah Brown’s size helps Daniels and the downfield blocking, though he is inconsistent in catching passes and a rib injury limited him against Tennessee. That led to receiver Dyami Brown, a deep threat and willing blocker, playing his most snaps (42) since Week 2.
To combat upcoming foes, using multiple tight ends might be the Commanders’ best answer on a play-by-play basis.
“Having those tight ends on the field makes sense,” Paulsen said. “Get your best players on the field. Once you have those guys, what personnel is that? Who do you want to be?”
(Photo of Ben Sinnott and Zach Ertz: Timothy Nwachukwu / Getty Images)
