It’s been a tough week for the Washington Commanders’ tight end room. On Tuesday — the first day of OTAs — promising second-year tight end Armani Rogers injured his Achilles in a non-contact drill and will undergo surgery soon. Rogers is already lost for the season.
Under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, the tight end position is a critical part of the offense, and Rogers had the highest upside of anyone in the room. The Commanders also like fellow second-year tight end Cole Turner, but Rogers, a former college quarterback, is an elite athlete the team believed was on the verge of a breakout in 2023.
Washington is counting on veteran Logan Thomas to bounce back in 2023 after injuries have plagued him the last two seasons. While Thomas was healthy last season, he was still less than one year removed from ACL surgery. The Commanders also have John Bates, Turner and Curtis Hodges on the roster.
But with Rogers down, Washington may be looking to add another veteran into the mix this summer for training camp. Jake Russell of The Washington Post reported Friday that the team had invited Brandon Dillon, formerly of the XFL’s Vegas Vipers, to Ashburn for a tryout.
The Commanders have invited Vegas Vipers tight end Brandon Dillon for a tryout.
Meanwhile, D.C. Defenders wide receiver Chris Blair and tight end Briley Moore-McKinney will both try out for the Titans.
— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) May 26, 2023
Dillon is a 6-foot-5, 250-pounder who played collegiately at Marian University in Indianapolis. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019, where he spent three seasons. After being waived in Dec. 2021, the Jets signed Dillon to the practice squad, but he never played for them.
In 2022, Dillon signed with the New Orleans Saints in June but was waived in August. From there, he spent the spring in the XFL.
During his short NFL career, Dillon has appeared in five games with one reception for six yards.
Dillon would be a depth signing for Washington, and he’d likely be competing with Hodges for a roster spot this summer.
