Carson Wentz

The Washington Commanders have replaced Taylor Heinicke with Carson Wentz in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Washington was down 30-14 at the time it inserted Wentz into the game. Heinicke completed 13 of 18 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns against one interception before being pulled.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports (h/t NFL insider Dov Kleiman) reported before the game that the Commanders had a "plan" to bench Heinicke in favor of Wentz if he struggled in Saturday's game.

Additionally NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the leash was getting shorter for Heinicke following poor performances against the New York Giants on Dec. 4 and Dec. 18.

While Heinicke wasn't necessarily playing that poorly, the Commanders needed any kind of spark they could get against a 49ers team that has played very well behind rookie quarterback Brock Purdy.

Wentz, who returned from a stint on injured reserve late last month, told reporters Wednesday that he was "physically feeling good" and would be ready to go against the 49ers if his number was called.

The 29-year-old began the season as Washington's starter after coming over in a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. In the team's first six games, he completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,489 yards and 10 touchdowns against six interceptions as the Commanders went 2-4.

Heinicke has started every game since, going 5-3-1 including the 37-20 loss to the 49ers. He entered Saturday's game having completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,693 yards and 10 touchdowns against five interceptions.

Despite falling to 7-7-1 on Saturday, Washington is still very much in the NFC playoff picture.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Monday the team will not bench Taylor Heinicke after Sunday's 20-12 loss to the New York Giants.

"The biggest thing more than anything else is sticking with Taylor and what we're trying to accomplish," Rivera told reporters.

The coach indicated a quarterback change could still come if things don't improve for the 7-6-1 squad.

"It is something to be quite frank, I do have to think about at some point," Rivera added. "But if we get back on track and play the way we've played and do the things we've done, then we'll stick where we are."

Carson Wentz, who started the first six games of the season, was activated from injured reserve last week after dealing with a finger injury.

The Commanders acquired Wentz in an offseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts, although he struggled in the new location with 10 passing touchdowns and six interceptions in six games, producing an 84.1 passer rating.

Washington was just 2-4 in his starts.

The team has fared better with Heinicke under center, going 5-2-1 in his eight eight games, although the last two starts resulted in a tie and loss to the New York Giants.

Heinicke also hasn't been much better on an individual level, totaling 10 touchdowns with five interceptions and an 87.7 rating.

He ranks 27th in the NFL in Total QBR, while Wentz is 31st of 33 qualified players.

The Commanders have been good enough to overcome mediocre quarterback play this year, ranking fourth in the NFL in total yards allowed and ninth in points allowed. It's kept them in playoff position entering Week 16, half a game ahead of the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions for the last wild-card spot.

Heinicke will keep his starting job ahead of next Saturday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, but he might have a short leash if he continues to struggle.

The Washington Commanders activated quarterback Carson Wentz from the Reserve/Injured list on Monday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Wentz has been sidelined since breaking his ring finger in the Commanders' Oct. 13 win over the Chicago Bears.

At the time of Wentz's injury, the Commanders were 2-4. Since, with Taylor Heinicke taking over as the starter, the team has gone 6-1-1.

Suffice to say, Washington has already made it clear that Heinicke, 29, will remain the starter going forward.

"We're going to go with Taylor, and we'll work Carson back in and see where Carson is in terms of if he's ready to be the backup, then we'll go from there," head coach Ron Rivera told reporters in late November.

When asked further why he was making that decision, Rivera answered simply: "Winning."

The 29-year-old Wentz struggled in his six starts this season, throwing for 1,489 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 62.1 percent of his passes and taking 23 sacks.

Contrast that to Heinicke, who in his seven starts has only thrown for 1,444 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 61.8 percent of his passes, but has only taken 14 sacks.

"I get it, I get it. It's part of the business," Wentz told reporters in late November regarding Rivera naming Heinicke the starter going forward. "I totally understand where we are at as a team and everything else. Obviously, as a competitor, you want to be out there. ... But at the same time, I have a great relationship with Taylor and all the guys. I've been happy to see him succeed in what he's been able to do."

For Washington, it's simple—why mess with a good thing? The Commanders (7-5-1) are the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs, with key matchups against the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys looming.

It's a tough stretch to close out the season, and it's no surprise that they'll be sticking with Heinicke to guide them through it.

Taylor Heinicke will remain the starting quarterback of the Washington Commanders, head coach Ron Rivera confirmed Sunday after a win over the Houston Texans.

Earlier Sunday, it was reported Heinicke would keep the job "as he continues to play well and the team keeps winning," according to ESPN's John Keim.

Carson Wentz, who began the season as the team's starter after an offseason trade from the Indianapolis Colts, has been on injured reserve because of a sprained right ring finger. He was not activated for Week 11 despite being eligible to come off IR.

After going 2-4 with Wentz as a starter early in the season, the Commanders are 4-1 with Heinicke under center.

Washington handed the Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the season with a 32-21 upset last Monday, although Heinicke had no touchdowns and one interception.

The 29-year-old hasn't produced great numbers when active, totaling just five passing touchdowns with four interceptions and a 82.7 passer rating. Wentz has a 84.1 rating with 10 touchdowns and six picks in six games.

The team has still performed better with Heinicke on the field, earning impressive wins over the Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers. The only loss in this stretch came by three points to the 8-1 Minnesota Vikings.

Heinicke started 16 games for the Commanders last season after first impressing in a playoff game after the 2020 season.

Washington still gave up a 2022 third-round pick and a conditional 2023 third-round pick to acquire Wentz, who has a $22 million salary this season. The 29-year-old is signed through 2024, although the organization can save $26.2 million by releasing him after the season, per Spotrac.

The Commanders could give Wentz another shot to prove himself when healthy before making a decision in the offseason. However, the squad believes Heinicke has earned more playing time while looking to contend for a playoff spot.

Taylor Heinicke helped the Washington Commanders hand the Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the season and will get another chance to keep that momentum rolling.

Head coach Ron Rivera told reporters Heinicke will start at quarterback for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. While Carson Wentz was cleared to throw, he has not yet been designated to return to practice from a broken finger.

Rivera said Wentz will need to practice at some point before he would be the backup, adding the team will "see how it goes" before determining whether the veteran will be behind Heinicke on the depth chart against the Texans.

Even if Wentz were healthy, it's hard to argue with the decision to go with the other option.

Heinicke is 3-1 as a starter this year and has helped Washington climb back into the playoff picture following an ugly 2-4 start. He has completed 62.0 percent of his passes for 840 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions while adding another 60 yards and a score on the ground.

While the turnovers are something of a concern, he has made a number of important and timely throws when games have been hanging in the balance and has a clear chemistry with No. 1 wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

McLaurin posted eight catches for 128 yards in Monday's win over the Eagles as the only Commanders player with more than three catches.

Turnovers have long been a problem for Wentz as well, who threw six interceptions in the first six games and led the league with 15 picks in just 12 games in 2020. Washington dug itself a hole in the early going of the season with the North Dakota State product under center and is just starting to climb out of it with Heinicke.

If the latter can earn another win against the Texans, it stands to reason that he will remain under center as the team looks to seize a wild-card spot in the NFC.

The Washington Commanders put an end to the Philadelphia Eagles' undefeated season with a 32-21 win at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, and it was Taylor Heinicke, not Carson Wentz, who powered Ron Rivera's squad to victory.

The Commanders now have a decision to make at quarterback. Will they stick with Wentz? Or will they turn to Heinicke, who has served as Wentz's backup for most of the season? Rivera is undecided.

The veteran head coach told reporters he'll put the team above all else when making his choice, per ESPN's John Keim:

"You look at what is best for the team and that's how it has to be. There's a great saying, 'You treat everyone the same, you treat everyone fair but you treat everyone according to the team. So the decision will be made about the team first and foremost. Whoever the starter is I will commit to them fully. I don't want them looking over their shoulder."

Heinicke completed 17-of-29 passes for 211 yards and one interception against the Eagles. It wasn't the most dazzling performance, but he got Washington the victory, something Wentz has struggled to do this year.

Wentz, who was traded to the Commanders from the Indianapolis Colts before the 2022 season, is on injured reserve and has been sidelined since suffering a broken finger in a Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

The 29-year-old struggled through the first six games of the season, completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,489 yards and 10 touchdowns against six interceptions. The Commanders went 2-4 with Wentz as their starter.

In the four games that Heinicke has been the starter, the Commanders are 3-1, and they evened their record to 5-5 with Sunday's win against the Eagles. The 29-year-old has completed 62 percent of his passes for 840 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for 60 yards and one score.

While Heinicke has played slightly better than Wentz, he told reporters after Monday's game that he won't be disappointed if Rivera decides to stick with Wentz when he is activated off injured reserve:

"If my number is called, I'll be ready to go in. Whatever decision they want to make, let's go. If I'm backing up Carson next week, great. I'm going to help him in any way that I can to get ready for that Texans game. The biggest thing for me is let's just go win. Let's keep winning whether it means playing or not."

At 5-5, the Commanders are right on the NFC playoff bubble. They'll face the 1-7-1 Houston Texans on Sunday.

The Washington Commanders announced that quarterback Carson Wentz has been placed on injured reserve because of a fractured finger suffered on Oct. 13 during a 12-7 road win over the Chicago Bears. He will be out for at least the next four games.

Per Commanders senior writer Zach Selby, Wentz underwent successful surgery Saturday in Los Angeles.

Wentz will miss Sunday's home matchup with the Green Bay Packers, an Oct. 30 road game at the Indianapolis Colts, a Nov. 6 home game with the Minnesota Vikings and a Nov. 14 Monday Night Football showdown at the Philadelphia Eagles. He's eligible to return on Nov. 20 at the Houston Texans.

That means Wentz will sit against his two previous teams, the Eagles and Colts. He played for Philadelphia from 2016 to 2020 before starting for Indianapolis last year.

Taylor Heinicke, who served as the team's starting quarterback last season, will take over for Wentz. The former Old Dominion star completed 65.0 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns (15 interceptions) in 2021.

Through six games, Wentz completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 10 touchdowns (six interceptions) and 1,489 yards. He's also been sacked an NFL-high 23 times.

The 2017 Pro Bowler arrived in Washington after the Commanders traded for him in March. The deal essentially amounts to a one-year trial in Washington as the Commanders can release Wentz after this season without any dead-cap penalty, per Over the Cap.

The 2-4 Commanders have gotten off to a rough start that includes a four-game losing streak, but a strong defensive performance got them back in the win column. They'll look to stay there Sunday against the Packers at 1 p.m. ET.

Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz is set to miss around a month of action, if not more, after suffering a fractured ring finger.

With Wentz out, Taylor Heinecke is the next man up on the Commanders' depth chart.

The 29-year-old played in 16 games (15 starts) in 2021 for Washington. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and 3,419 yards (6.9 yards per attempt). He also rushed for 313 yards and one score.

Per Pro Football Reference, Heinecke finished last year ranked 25th out of 33 qualifiers in quarterback rating and 24th in ESPN's QBR metric. He was 22nd in both Football Outsiders' DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) and DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) stats.

The Old Dominion product's best career game occurred in the 2020 NFC Wild Card Round against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He completed 26-of-44 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown (one interception). He also rushed for 46 yards and one more score.

Heinecke's rushing ability makes him a decent enough option as a backup quarterback or fringe option in two-quarterback leagues. He's shown enough with his arm as well to make rosters as a backup.

His rankings are a drop down from Wentz's 2021 work with the Indianapolis Colts (13th in quarterback rating, 10th in QBR, 16th in both Football Outsiders' DVOA and DYAR), but Heinecke wasn't necessarily a hindrance for Washington skill-position players to produce.

McLaurin caught 77 passes for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns last year, and he has a somewhat disappointing 22/367/1 stat line this year. According to FantasyPros, he finished 29th among all wideouts (10-game minimum) in fantasy points per game in point-per-reception leagues. His 130 targets were 13th-most in the NFL among wideouts.

Gibson rushed for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns on 258 carries last year. He also caught 42 passes for 294 yards and three scores. He scored the 17th-most points per game among all running backs in PPR leagues last year, per FantasyPros.

This year, however, he has lost his starting role to rookie Brian Robinson, who has rushed 26 times for 82 yards and a score in two games. He's a strong flex candidate with legitimate RB2 upside.

McLaurin, meanwhile, is still a flex option. Gibson is more of an RB4 unless he regains his starting gig back from Robinson.

It's hard to trust anyone else on the Washington side, though. Curtis Samuel has 50 targets though six games and 34 catches for 287 yards and two scores, though showed far more chemistry with Wentz under center than he ever did with Heinecke last season. Keep him in consideration for your flex, but don't be surprised if Wentz's injury hurts his fantasy stock.

Jahan Dotson has cooled off after a hot start, catching 12 passes for 122 yards and four scores. He's on the flex radar as well, though his touchdown reliance thus far in the season likely isn't sustainable.

Logan Thomas was Washington's top tight end last year and fared well in limited action (18 catches, 196 yards, three touchdowns in six games), but hamstring and knee injuries forced him out of action. He started the season on the physically unable to perform list due to the knee injury and in four games has 13 receptions for 106 yards and a score.

In sum, there are probably no players on this roster who are unquestionable starters, with McLaurin and Robinson likely being the most reliable going forward. Heinecke is fine enough as a backup, and everyone else is difficult to trust for one reason or another.

Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz underwent successful surgery on his finger injury Monday and is expected to make a full recovery.

While the team did not announce a timeline, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported Wentz's doctor provided a four-week recovery timetable:

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo previously reported Wentz was expected to miss the next four to six weeks with the injury.

As a result of the potential recovery timeline, the Commanders reportedly are considering placing Wentz on injured reserve, which would require him to miss at least four games.

Wentz's injury opens the door for Taylor Heinicke to run the offense, and the change may not be much of a downgrade to the offense.

Heinicke was serviceable as the starter in 2021, throwing for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He ranked 23rd in QBR (45.8), per ESPN.com, which is better than Wentz's current position (27th; 34.1).

The MMQB's Albert Breer speculated Heinicke's ascension "will open up the playbook for the offensive staff" because of the continuity he carries over from last year.

Amid a 2-4 start, Washington could decide to put its short-term fortunes aside to give fifth-round draft pick Sam Howell an extended look instead. Qualifying for the postseason is already going to be an uphill climb, so why not see whether Howell is worthy of QB1 status.

Regardless of whether it's Heinicke or Howell under center, it's not a stretch to say fans might have seen the last of Wentz as the Commanders' starter.

Washington can easily move on from him in the offseason since none of his $26.2 million salary hit will count against the cap if he's cut. The franchise has a vested interest in limiting his usage before then as well.

If things are going well with Heinicke, then head coach Ron Rivera can point to that as a reason to keep Wentz on the bench once he's healthy enough to play again. If the season continues going off the rails, then Rivera could plausibly argue there's no harm in playing Howell and looking toward next year.

Either way, Wentz's injury may have hastened the inevitable.