ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Chiefs are back to quarterback Carson Wentz in their fight for a playoff spot.
The team announced Wednesday that Wentz will start in place of Taylor Heinicke when the Commanders (7-7-1) host the Cleveland Browns (6-9) on Sunday.
Wentz had started the first six games this season before breaking his right ring finger in an Oct. 13 win over the Chicago Bears. He was placed on injured reserve and did not return to the active roster until December 17. Heinicke started nine games, leading the team to a 5-3-1 record.
However, Washington has gone 0-2-1 in its last three games. Despite moving the ball well with Heinicke, the Commanders have ranked 26th in red zone offense and 20th in points per game in his eight full starts.
Wentz replaced Heinicke in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 37-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Wentz completed 12 of 16 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought Carson coming in and, he hadn’t played in a while, he was a little rusty at first and then he started to get better,” coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday. “He showed that he made quick decisions, so it was good to see him. There are still some things he can continue to work on.”
Heinicke had provided a spark with his mobility and penchant for clutch and late-game throws. Those attributes led to wins over the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts, while also leading to a tie against the New York Giants. Heinicke has thrown 12 touchdowns to six interceptions while being sacked 19 times in his nine starts, with his ability to escape pressure allowing him to be sacked less often.
But with commanders struggling to finish late-season drives and the belief that Wentz’s greater familiarity with the offense could lead to quicker decisions, Washington opted for the move.
Commanders loved Wentz’s arm strength and what he could do for the offense. Their two games against San Francisco showed them what they wanted to see.
“What he showed is that he’s totally healthy, that he’s got fresh legs and a lively arm now,” Rivera said Tuesday. “He made really quick decisions. He showed us that quick twitch that you look for in quarterbacks, and his decision-making seemed on point.”
Washington traded two third-round picks, one in 2022 and one in 2023, and traded second-round picks in April to acquire Wentz from Indianapolis. He entered the season as the clear-cut starter, something even Heinicke acknowledged during a spring press conference.
Wentz, the second overall pick in 2016, needed to learn a new offense for the first time in his career. He had played in the same system during his first five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and last season with the Colts.
In his first two starts, Washington scored a total of 55 points. But over the next four, the Chiefs managed just 47. He has thrown 11 touchdowns to six interceptions and been sacked 23 times.
Wentz’s contract includes two more years, but no more guaranteed money. If Washington chooses to keep him around, it could restructure his deal or pay him $26.7 million in 2023. Heinicke is a free agent after the season.
Heinicke became a fan favorite after arriving in Washington in December 2020 as a fourth quarterback who could fill in if the other three were sidelined by COVID-19. Before that, he lived with his sister and took graduate school at Old Dominion.
He ended up starting the team’s playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that season and won over his teammates with his bold style of play and pylon touchdown runs.
Washington signed Heinicke to a two-year extension that offseason. He started 15 games in 2021 after Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 1 and went 7-8.
The Commanders have a 12-11-1 record under Heinicke the last two seasons. They are 2-6 below anyone else.