Commanders coach torn between Taylor Heinicke and bettering Carson Wentz

The Washington Commanders have a choice to make at quarterback, however coach Ron Rivera nonetheless is not certain when it should be made.

Rivera stated he is nonetheless undecided if Carson Wentz will probably be activated off injured reserve this week after lacking the final 4 video games with a fractured proper ring finger. It was initially thought that the harm would sideline him for 4 weeks. If that is the case, then Wentz could possibly be activated this week.

Nonetheless, even when he’s obtainable there is a good probability Washington sticks along with his substitute, Taylor Heinicke. Although he lacks Wentz’s dimension or arm, the Commanders have gone 3-1 with Heinicke beginning and sprung an enormous upset at Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night time.

Rivera stated he nonetheless has to satisfy with trainers to debate Wentz’s state of affairs after which focus on the state of affairs with offensive coordinator Scott Turner and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese.

Then, when Rivera decides on a starter, he would first meet with the gamers concerned after which inform the group. That might not occur till Wednesday morning on the earliest.

“You need to have a look at the momentum and what the temper of the group is,” Rivera stated. “There are a whole lot of components.”

Washington acquired Wentz, the second total choose within the 2016 draft, from the Indianapolis Colts within the offseason. The groups swapped second-round draft picks final April and the Commanders additionally despatched a third-round alternative in 2022 and a conditional third in 2023. The latter turns right into a second-round choose if Wentz performs 70% of the snaps this season.

Wentz, who began the primary six video games, fractured his proper ring finger in a 12-7 win over the Chicago Bears on Oct. 13 and was positioned on injured reserve.

Whereas the offense remained inconsistent, he did lead a late drive to clinch a win vs. Inexperienced Bay Packers and in addition a last-second march to win at Indianapolis along with Monday night time’s upset.

Heinicke has posted a 47.2 quarterback ranking in his 4 begins in comparison with Wentz’s 32.4 in six begins. Wentz additionally needed to study a brand new offense, having performed in a special system his earlier six seasons. It led to him holding the ball longer than common at occasions behind shaky move safety. He was sacked 23 occasions.

“You have a look at what’s finest for the group and that is the way it must be,” Rivera stated. “There’s an excellent saying, ‘You deal with everybody the identical, you deal with everybody truthful however you deal with everybody in response to the group. So the choice will probably be made concerning the group initially. Whoever the starter is I’ll decide to them absolutely. I do not need them trying over their shoulder.”

However Rivera stopped in need of saying any resolution can be for the rest of the season.

After Monday’s win, Heinicke stated he is not fearful about any resolution.

“I stated it again in OTAs that we introduced Carson in to be a starter. If my quantity is named, I will be able to go in,” Heinicke stated. “No matter resolution they need to make, let’s go. If I am backing up Carson subsequent week, nice. The largest factor for me is let’s simply go win. Let’s hold profitable whether or not it means taking part in or not.”

Heinicke does have the help of the locker room. They’ve gravitated to his underdog story — the previous undrafted quarterback who was sleeping on his sister’s sofa at the moment two years in the past earlier than Washington signed him in December 2020. He began a playoff sport that season towards Tampa Bay Buccaneers and performed properly in a 31-23 loss.

“He is been nice for us since he is acquired right here, truthfully,” receiver Terry McLaurin stated. “He performs with no concern, all the pieces’s not fairly. He’s going to increase performs along with his legs and get the robust yards. He’s going to get us in the fitting conditions. You simply really feel assured with a man again there like that. Lots of people need to measure his peak, his arm, all these issues. You’ll be able to’t measure what’s within his chest.”