There is no quarterback controversy for the Washington Commanders. At least not right now. Week 1 starter Carson Wentz inching closer to being activated from injured reserve. However, Taylor Heinicke remains the choice for Commanders head coach Ron Rivera.
“I feel comfortable with Taylor, and when Carson is activated, he will be the primary backup,” Rivera said Monday, per Sam Fortier of the Washington Post.
Wentz started the first six games of the season after the Commanders acquired him in a trade for draft picks from the Indianapolis Colts. He struggled, and the Commanders stumbled to a 2-4 start before he suffered a broken ring finger on his throwing hand.
Washington placed Wentz on injured reserve following finger surgery. Heinicke stepped in to replace Wentz. While his numbers are not astronomical, the Commanders have found an identity on offense and followed Heinicke’s lead. In Heinicke’s seven starts, the Commanders have a 5-1-1 record.
Heinicke had arguably his best game in Sunday’s tie with the Giants. He completed 27-of-41 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns while losing a fumble.
Heinicke’s play has been like a roller coaster. At times, he makes brilliant plays, such as his scramble outside the pocket on 4th-and-4 in the fourth quarter against the Giants to find an open receiver for the much-needed first down on Washington’s game-tying drive.
Then there are the cringing moments where he misses a wide-open receiver with an underthrown pass. Or when he floats the ball to a receiver allowing multiple defenders a chance to make a play on the ball.
Nevertheless, Heinicke has won over the Commanders’ locker room. The team has engulfed his personality as its identity. And therefore have been on a tear. Their only hiccup in the last eight games was a three-point loss to the 10-2 Minnesota Vikings.
As long as the team is winning and Heinicke plays average, there is no need to turn back to Wentz. Meanwhile, Wentz will be a $28.2 million backup. Unless he gets another opportunity this season, he’ll endure a third straight season with a different team where things didn’t work out.
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