When Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz fractured a finger on his throwing hand in a Week 6 win against the Chicago Bears, a door opened for backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
Wentz hadn’t played well in his first six weeks with Washington. He had some good moments, but he also struggled. Some of it was his fault, and some of it wasn’t. However, it was clear Wentz hadn’t shown coaches the job belonged to him.
Heinicke would return to the lineup and win his first two starts. If not for a late collapse against Minnesota in Week 9, the Commanders could be 5-0 with Heinicke under center this season. Heinicke led the Commanders to another win Sunday, as Washington defeated Houston 23-10. It was the team’s fifth win in its last six games.
Before Sunday’s game, news broke that head coach Ron Rivera would stick with Heinicke as the starter when Wentz was cleared. Wentz is eligible to come off injured reserve now and likely will soon.
Even before Heinicke went to Philadelphia and led the Commanders to an upset, it was clear this was his team. For all of his flaws as a quarterback, there is something special about Heinicke, and his teammates believe in him.
After Washington’s win over Houston, Rivera was asked why he’s sticking with Heinicke.
“Winning,” Rivera said. “I mean, that’s the truth of the matter. That’s where we’re at right now.”
How did Wentz take the news?
“He was very good,” Rivera said. “He really was.”
It’s a good problem to have for Washington. The Commanders head into Week 12 with a 6-5 record, and if Rivera had gone back to Wentz right now, it would have upset the entire team. And that’s not a personal dig at Wentz, as his teammates love him.
This is Heinicke’s team and will be for the foreseeable future.