Oh the irony.
Washington stood 1-4 and winning 12-7 in Chicago, starting quarterback Carson Wentz broke a finger on his passing hand. Enter Taylor Heinicke who has led the Commanders to three wins in their last four games, evening their record at 5-5.
Coach Ron Rivera has yet to make a public statement on whom his starter will be when Wentz can compete for the job. Initially, the consensus opinion was when Wentz returned he would play. And why not? Washington had spent a third-round choice and one that could become a second-round choice. They needed to justify their trading two choices for Wentz.
Yet, here we are, and Heinicke has done enough (yes, he has had his struggles) that the Commanders are 5-5, fighting for the final playoff spot.
The irony?
Taylor Heinicke had played well in the 2020 playoff loss to Tampa Bay. Following the game, Washington did sign Heinicke to backup money, and it was a significant raise for him.
But make no mistake, following that playoff effort, Rivera has expended great effort to replace Heinicke. In the 2021 offseason, the front office went out and signed veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to be the starter.
But Fitz went down in the first half of his first game in Burgundy and Gold. Heinicke ended up taking over the starting role for the 2021 season. He had some great moments, but he also struggled mightily at times.
So, what did the Washington brass do following the regular season? They made it absolutely clear they were looking elsewhere turning over every rock to replace Heinicke as the No 1 quarterback for the Commanders.
So, here we are, the Commanders are 5-5, and if Heinicke has a decent game this week, and is healthy, the general consensus across the DMV and NFL media is that Rivera will turn not away from Heinicke but to him, spurning Wentz for whom he traded those two day-two draft choices.
Taylor Heinicke has been released by the Vikings, Patriots, Texans, Panthers and even the St Louis Battlehawks of the XFL would not name him the starter.
Life is so ironic sometimes, isn’t it? Sometimes it takes drought to better appreciate rain and rejection to appreciate acceptance.
Just ask Taylor Heinicke.