By Jordan Long
The Washington Commanders are looking to improve on last year’s 7-10 record. Washington starts the regular season on 9/11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. There could be a new quarterback under center for them, Carson Wentz.
Washington traded for Wentz on March 9th, 2022. Wentz played for the Indianapolis Colts last year. He went 9-8 as their starter but the Colts missed the playoffs with that record. Wentz passed for 3,563 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was careful with the football and didn’t toss the ball into an area where his receiver wasn’t or into double coverage. He ended up throwing 7 interceptions. With stats like that, it was very surprising the Colts traded him. The only reason was for salary cap relief. Wentz’s cap hit stands at around $28.294 million.
The Colts received 2022 second and third-round picks in this year’s draft from Washington. They also received a 2023 third-round selection, but it can go up to a second-round pick if Wentz plays 70% of Washington’s offensive snaps. Washington also got back a 2022 second-round pick which they used to draft defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis.
The thinking is Wentz is going to be the starter putting last year’s quarterback Taylor Heinicke as the backup. According to ESPN.com, Heinicke even said he most likely won’t be the starter. He said, “I don’t think that’s an option. You look at the NFL and at the end of the day, it’s kind of a business. If you’re paying someone $30 million and you’re paying someone else $2 million — you’re paying this guy $30 million to play, you know?”
On paper Heinicke is right. Washington made a deal with the Colts that shows Heinicke isn’t the answer. They are hoping Wentz is. The difference between the two as of right now is Heinicke knows the Washington playbook. For Wentz, it will take him a while to understand the play calls.
Heinicke is most likely going to begin training camp as the backup quarterback. There might not be a quarterback controversy right now but if Wentz struggles in preseason games, Heinicke might have his opportunity to steal the job.
Either way, Washington wants to make the postseason no matter who is under center. Washington hasn’t advanced past the Wild Card round since 2005. That year they went to the Divisional Round but lost to the Seattle Seahawks 20-10. The last time they earned their way to the Super Bowl was Super Bowl 26 when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24. They want to end those droughts.
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