The Washington Commanders will stay with Taylor Heinicke as their starting quarterback as long as he continues to play nicely and the team maintains prevailing.
On Sunday, coach Ron Rivera referred to “prevailing” as the motive to stay with Heinicke, who turned into 15-of-27 for 191 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in Sunday’s 23-10 victory over the Houston Texans (1-8-1).
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The stats had been no longer gaudy, however, Heinicke has helped Washington (6-5) move four-1 in place of the injured Carson Wentz. Rivera said he has spoken to Wentz about the choice.
Wentz remains on injured reserve due to a sprained proper ring finger, which he suffered in an Oct. Thirteen win at Chicago. He turned eligible to return off IR this beyond week, however, Washington did no longer experience becoming ready.
The Commanders’ surge with Heinicke under center had left the corporation with a choice to make, but, whilst Wentz is activated. Rivera stated beyond week that he did now not want to expose his intentions earlier than talking to the gamers.
It is also possible that Wentz returns to the beginning lineup quicker instead of later — but handiest if Heinicke and the offense struggle and the Commanders begin losing once more.
The current state of affairs with Heinicke as the starter is what one supply anticipated might show up numerous weeks ago if the Commanders replied well to Heinicke and have been winning.
Washington made solid funding to gather Wentz, trading a third-round pick out in 2022 and a conditional 1/3-round pick in 2023 to the Indianapolis Colts. The groups additionally swapped 2d-spherical alternatives ultimate April. Wentz counts $28.294 million on Washington’s salary cap.
The choice to start Heinicke impacts the conditional selection for Indianapolis. If Wentz performs at least 70% of Washington’s snaps this season, the Commanders might owe the Colts a 2nd-spherical choice. Wentz has currently played fifty nine.1% of the team’s offensive performance. At Washington’s contemporary pace, if Heinicke starts one greater recreation after Sunday, the Colts would get only a third-spherical desire.
Wentz threw seven landing passes combined in Washington’s first two video games, however, the offense struggled inside the ensuing 4 games, scoring a complete of just 47 points to that extent.
For the season, Wentz has thrown 10 landing passes and six interceptions while playing in a brand-new offensive system for the primary time in his seven seasons. He become sacked 23 times, as a result of that mastering curve, inconsistent bypass protection, and a loss in mobility due to knee and again injuries. Wentz has a 32.Five QBR.
Heinicke, who has spent parts of 5 seasons in this offense, has helped with his mobility in addition to his penchant for connecting with top receiver Terry McLaurin. In six video games with Wentz, McLaurin had 36 goals and 22 receptions; in four games with Heinicke, he has 37 targets and 24 catches.
Heinicke has thrown five touchdowns and four interceptions however have been sacked handiest 9 instances in six starts. He additionally has become a popular player within the locker room due to his underdog story — the previous undrafted unfastened agent out of antique Dominion who turned into sleeping on his sister’s sofa two years ago — and his pass-all-out fashion of play.
Rivera’s comments Tuesday foreshadowed this decision.
“you need to have a look at the momentum and what the mood of the crew is,” Rivera stated at some point after Heinicke helped disillusioned the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. “There are lots of factors.”
