by According to NFL Media, the Washington Commanders are making a big move as quarterback as Taylor Heinicke is expected to move beyond Carson Wentz. Wentz is still out with the finger injury that sidelined him in the first place, but when he returns he is expected to be runner-up.
Heinicke has gone 3-1 as a starter since replacing Wentz, with his most recent appearance coming in a 32-21 victory over the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. In his four starts this season, Heinicke has completed 62 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and four interceptions, and has averaged 210 passing yards per game.
Heinicke was Washington’s starter for most of 2021 after Ryan Fitzpatrick went down in Week 1 with a season-ending injury. There were both good and bad moments for the former Old Dominion star, as he went 7-8 as a starter and threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, but there was no doubt Washington would be looking for the offseason to a new starting quarterback.
Wentz, the former No. 2 on the Eagles, went 2–4 as Washington’s starter at the start of the year, completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns and six interceptions while averaging 248.2 passing yards per match made. He was also sacked 23 times.
It’s a big step for Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, whose confidence in Wentz seemed to occasionally publicly dwindle during the season. When Washington made the polarizing decision to trade for Wentz, who was a one-and-done with the Indianapolis Colts, Rivera proclaimed that he had no questions about the Commander’s new quarterback – unlike everyone else.
“You have questions. I don’t… Whose questions are they? Do they have answers? If they have answers, and they know and they’re in the thick of it, great. Then why not? tell us what your answers are ?” Rivera told Ben Standig of TheAthletic.com, (H/T Pro Football Talk). “I’ll be honest with you: From this point on, I don’t really care about what happened in Philadelphia, nor do I really care about what happened in Indianapolis. The answers I’ve gotten from the people, the things I’ve seen and read don’t scare me. . . . Most of the things I’ve seen and people I’ve talked to, and the people who know. . . their answers really support how I feel. . . . Honestly, I’m not worried about that.”
Last month, however, the coach apologized after signaling the quarterback position as why the commanders lined up behind the other teams in the NFC East.
This is a move that will be celebrated by many as Heinicke is the bumbling underdog who has quickly established himself as a fan favorite due to his competitiveness. It remains to be seen how long he can hold this position, but the commanders are certainly riding high at this point.
