The Washington franchise is no stranger to quarterback controversies. Whether it was Billy Kilmer and Sonny Jurgensen, Jay Schroeder and Doug Williams, Gus Frerotte and Heath Shuler, Brad Johnson and Jeff George, or Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins, there seems always to be a quarterback controversy in Washington.
The Commanders benched Taylor Heinicke in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the 49ers and replaced him with former starter Carson Wentz. While Heinicke was upset, he was the first person to congratulate Wentz after his touchdown pass. Heinicke also praised Wentz after the game.
Wentz also spoke to the media after the game, and he too praised Heinicke. Wentz admitted he wasn’t sure where head coach Ron Rivera would turn, but he would support Heinicke if he were the choice, and Heinicke would also support Wentz.
“This league is crazy,” Wentz said. “And thankfully Taylor and I have an awesome relationship, and I’ve been supporting the heck out of him, and he’s done the same for me all year. A lot of things are outside of our control. We control what we can and try and go play and be the best we can be. I know he’s been doing that all along and I’m trying to do the same.”
Wentz knows that one of the two will be disappointed when Rivera names the quarterback for Week 17.
“We’re both mature,” Wentz said. “We’ve both seen a lot in this league. We both had very different journeys. I think that the fact we can learn from each other, talk through that and just be real and be honest. And also still support each other. I think that’s cool and unique. I think it’s not like that everywhere. Because you’re right, there’s one guy out on the field, and usually, there’s one guy playing in an entire game. I’ll be ready for whatever happens, and I know he will be too. And we’ll have each other’s back.”
Wentz and Heinicke have handled this entire season extremely well. When Rivera named Heinicke the quarterback once Wentz was ready to return, Wentz was the ultimate professional. If you remember, it was said that Wentz wasn’t a great teammate at his two previous stops, a notion that many of his former teammates have disputed.
Regardless of who is under center for Washington’s two final regular-season games, the Commanders have a lot to play for. Win both games, and they are in the playoffs. For whichever quarterback starts, it’s a chance to show the coaches they should be back next season.
