Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera has made a decision on Tuesday as to who will start at quarterback in the absence of starting quarterback Carson Wentz.
Rivera announced on Tuesday that veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke will start at quarterback for the Commanders this week for their upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers.
Taylor Heinicke will start at QB this Sunday vs. Green Bay#GBvsWAS | #HTTC pic.twitter.com/U2y96DQu8v
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 18, 2022
Wentz was able to finish last Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bears despite evidently being in some significant pain. It turns out he suffered a broken ring finger on his throwing hand, which he underwent surgery to repair on Monday.
Taylor Heinicke was ultimately given the nod over rookie quarterback Sam Howell, who will be the team’s backup quarterback for the game.
Rookie Sam Howell will back-up Taylor Heinicke on Sunday
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 18, 2022
Heinicke provides some experience at the quarterback position, but many around the NFL world seemed to hope that the Commanders would give Howell the starting nod.
BOOOO we want Sam Howell https://t.co/NXZ8Dxmn4L
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) October 18, 2022
Boooooo Sam Howell time https://t.co/DJ8q9MgbiP
— Katie Stats (@kpondiscio) October 18, 2022
Bailey Zappe out here balling and the Commanders want to check out Sam Howell’s clipboard-holding form while their starter is hurt
— Ben Gretch (@YardsPerGretch) October 18, 2022
Watching Taylor Heinicke play QB for you the last few years is why you traded for Carson Wentz and drafted Sam Howell so sure start Heinicke. https://t.co/SPXYrjdP8m
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) October 18, 2022
Ron Rivera discussed the decision, saying that he did not consider starting Howell over Heinicke at this point in Howell’s career.
“The focus is Taylor (Heinicke), it’s still early in the year. Don’t want to put Sam in a situation like that this early in his career. Sam is still learning.”
Rivera says going with rookie QB Sam Howell was not a consideration:
"The focus is Taylor, it's still early in the year…Dont want to put Sam in a situation like that this early in his career…Sam is still learning"— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 18, 2022
Howell notably slipped all the way to the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft to the Commanders despite many giving him a first or second-round grade, but fans of Howell will have to wait to see his NFL debut.
Heinicke started in 15 games for the Commanders last season, recording 3,419 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Given the Commanders’ poor start to the year and a number of teams in the NFC East getting off to a hot start, it is crucial that Heinicke performs well to keep the Commanders afloat without Wentz.
[Washington Commanders on Twitter]
