Since Kirk Cousins’ departure in 2018, the quarterback position for the Washington Football Team has been consistently inconsistent. After Alex Smith was at the helm during Washington’s 6-2 start in 2018, Washington hasn’t found a reliable starter as they have started at least three quarterbacks in each of the past three seasons. In 2018, the Washington Football Team quarterbacks had an average passer rating of 78.1, which was 29th in the NFL. Then in 2019, they were 25th in the NFL, at 83.0. Finally, last season, the two Washington quarterbacks who threw at least 224 pass attempts, Dwayne Haskins and Alex Smith, ranked 33rd and 31st in the NFL in passer rating. However, Taylor Heinicke shined in the Wild Card Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for 306 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including one with his legs.
Despite this performance, Ron Rivera and Company were adamant about upgrading the quarterback position as they signed Ryan Fitzpatrick to a one-year, $10 million contract in the off-season. Fitzpatrick has played for eight different teams throughout his career, including his previous two with the Miami Dolphins. While Fitzpatrick is expected to be the starting quarterback in Week 1, Taylor Heinicke could push him after a strong minicamp performance. Here is a preview for the Washington Football quarterbacks heading into training camp.
Preview of Washington Football Team Quarterbacks Heading Into Training Camp
Ryan Fitzpatrick
The 38-year old journeyman from Harvard, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is heading into his 17th season in the NFL after being drafted 250th overall by the St. Louis Rams in 2005. Fitzpatrick has had a polarizing career on the field. While he has sustained periods of excellence, such as an incredible start to the 2018 season where he threw for 819 yards with eight touchdowns in two games, he has also had moments where he undoubtedly cost his team games, including his disastrous three-interception performance with a playoff berth on the line as a member of the New York Jets in 2015.
Last season, Fitzpatrick had one of the most peculiar years for any quarterback in recent memory. Leading the Dolphins to a 3-3 record, Fitzpatrick threw for 1535 yards and 10 touchdowns to seven interceptions, through the first six games, but was benched for rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after the week seven bye. He went on to start Week 11 against the Jets as the Dolphins won 20-3. In Week 16, he also served as a reliever in a critical affair against the Las Vegas Raiders after Tagovaoila was benched and led the Dolphins to a miraculous win.
HOW did Fitzpatrick get this throw off 🤯
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/7dlW4Ff4ey
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 27, 2020
While Fitzpatrick is the presumptive starter among the Washington Football Team quarterbacks, it will be interesting to see how large of a lead or leash he will have over Heinicke in training camp and into Week 1. Although Fitzpatrick has been known to get off to sizzling starts to the seasons, he has started 16 games just 3 times in his career, mainly attributed to performance. If Heinicke continues his stretch of excellent play into training camp and Fitzpatrick struggles, Ron Rivera could have an interesting decision to make to begin the 2021 season. However, Fitzpatrick had a solid minicamp himself and received glowing reviews from teammates, such as star wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
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Taylor Heinicke
The Old Dominion product, Taylor Heinicke, is right behind Fitzpatrick in the early training camp depth chart. Washington signed Heinicke to the practice squad in December. He was initially thought to be the “quarantine quarterback,” according to the Washington Post. After Alex Smith was sidelined with a calf injury, Heinicke served as the backup quarterback for Washington in weeks 15 and 16. He appeared in Week 16 after Dwayne Haskins was benched following an abysmal three quarters against the Carolina Panthers. In just one-quarter of play, Heinicke impressed. He was 12 for 19 with 137 yards and a touchdown pass. More than the statistics, Heinicke pushed the ball down the field as he launched a beautiful deep ball to Cam Sims that went through his hands.
This culminated in a magical start for Heinicke against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Heinicke went head to head with future Hall-of-Famer Tom Brady and gave the eventual Super Bowl Champs all that they could handle. He played valiantly with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and threw a magnificent pass to Steven Sims in the back corner to bring Washington within six.
Taylor Heinicke to Steven Sims for the touchdown! What. A. Dime. #TBvsWAS pic.twitter.com/y25YP5AD7G
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) January 10, 2021
The sensational performance earned Heinicke a two-year, $4.75 million contract with the Washington Football Team. This not only gives Washington an affordable quarterback (backup or starter), but financial security for Heinicke who was finishing a degree at Old Dominion prior to his practice squad signing. Over the off-season, Heinicke addressed one of his most crucial flaws: injuries. Heinicke gained 15 pounds in the off-season, which should help reduce the injury risk that comes with his ambitious play on the field.
Kyle Allen
If Kyle Allen had not fractured his ankle in week eight against the New York Giants, Taylor Heinicke may not have even played a snap for Washington. After Dwayne Haskins was benched following a Week 4 start against Baltimore, Allen started four games for Washington. He threw for 610 yards with a 69% completion percentage and a four to two touchdown to turnover ratio. The offense looked much more smooth with Allen at the helm and Allen kept Washington in the game in each of his four starts (although he left two of them with injury). While he played relatively well, turnovers and a small degree of recklessness, or as offensive coordinator Scott Turner deemed “selfish” play, haunted Allen once again. In his first start against the Los Angeles Rams, Allen left the game with a shoulder injury and committed two costly turnovers in a Week 8 loss against the New York Giants.
Turnovers have been the primary issue for Allen throughout his NFL tenure. Following a scorching first four starts in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers, Allen threw 16 interceptions and lost three fumbles in his last nine games. There is no question that Ron Rivera believes in Kyle Allen’s play and demeanor off-the-field, but injuries and carelessness with the ball are reasons why Allen will most likely be the third quarterback heading into training camp.
Steven Montez
The undrafted second-year pro from Colorado, Steven Montez, was almost thrust into action in the Wild Card game last season after Heinicke temporarily left the game with a shoulder injury. But Montez did not appear in a game last season after spending most of the season on the practice squad. Out of Colorado, Montez did not lack physical tools, but struggled in the more mental aspects of the quarterback position.
Ron Rivera praised not only Montez’s physical tools last season, but also his eagerness and ability to learn the quarterback position. But with the top three quarterbacks all but set, Montez will most likely be on the practice squad again as the fourth quarterback.
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