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Three quarterbacks started at least one game for the Washington Commanders in 2021. Ryan Fitzpatrick was signed last March to be Washington’s starter for the 2021 season, but he was injured and lost for the year after only six passes.
That led to Taylor Heinicke taking over under center. After his performance in Washington’s playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Jan. 2021, some in the organization felt he was the better option in training camp.
Heinicke would end up starting 15 games for the Commanders in 2021. Last season, the other starting quarterback for Washington was an unlikely one in veteran Garrett Gilbert. Gilbert was just two days before Washington was scheduled to play Philadelphia after Heinicke and Kyle Allen were both placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
This week, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com did his final quarterback index of the 2021 season, ranking every quarterback who started at least one game last season.
Heinicke came in at No. 27:
Heinicke probably won’t get another season with 15 starts. Then again, I never would have guessed Heinicke’s spiritual father, Ryan Fitzpatrick, would have three seasons as a primary starter after turning 33. Like Fitzpatrick, Heinicke’s self-belief creates a lot of big plays for both his team and the opposition.
Heinicke played well at times in 2021, but his limitations are often on display. The good news for Heinicke is that he’s proven to be a capable backup in the NFL. There’s nothing wrong with being a backup NFL passer. Ask Chase Daniel. Heinicke can win games for you off the bench, which some other backups cannot do.
Gilbert earned a ranking for his one start — ahead of Fitzpatrick at No. 56.
For the second straight year, Gilbert looked better than expected in an emergency start that he had little chance of winning.
Fitzpatrick, who completed three of six passes for 13 yards, came in at No. 59.
Fitzpatrick suffered a life-changing hip injury after throwing just six passes in Washington. It’s a huge bummer if his otherwise joyous career ends this way, although it hasn’t changed him too much. Nine teams and 17 seasons after breaking in as a seventh-round pick under Mike Martz in St. Louis, Fitzmagic left a legacy unlike any other quarterback of his generation.
It’s a shame Washington fans didn’t get the full Fitzpatrick experience in 2021. Hopefully, the hip injury doesn’t end Fitzpatrick’s career, and he has a chance to at least return as a backup for someone in 2022.
In case you were wondering, the legendary Tom Brady was ranked No. 1 on the 2021 QB index.