Taylor Heinicke might have never started a game for the Washington Football Team if Alex Smith had not been injured in the WFT’s wild-card playoff game against the Buccaneers in January.
It just so happened that Smith’s injury coincided with Washington’s playoff game, and Heinicke, who signed in December to be the team’s emergency quarterback, was head coach Ron Rivera’s best option. Washington released Dwayne Haskins in December, Kyle Allen was on injured reserve, and there was no way Rivera was starting Steven Montez in a playoff game.
Enter Heinicke.
Heinicke started the game, passed for 306 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for 46 yards and a score. He nearly led Washington to an upset over the eventual Super Bowl champions.
That impressed Smith. Throughout the offseason and into the season, Smith spoke kindly of Heinicke and Washington’s chances in 2021.
In an appearance on the ESPN Daily podcast with Pablo Torre Monday, Smith said he reached out to Heinicke after his performance in Washington’s win over the Buccaneers.
“I shot Taylor a note right after it,” Smith said. “I’m just pumped for him, man. This is a guy that was on his couch, thought he was out of football. He had been a journeyman, dealt with injuries and just kind of stayed there and stayed ready. To come in last year and to play the way he did in the playoff chance and played great and then it got him an opportunity this year and he’s made the most if it. I think he’s played really well. You talk about career starts, and this guy’s only had 10 career starts. He’s still a young guy in that sense. He had total command (on Sunday). He plays with great timing and anticipation, and he is a really, really gifted athlete.”
It’s good to see Smith still supporting Washington and Heinicke. From their short time together last season, it’s clear Heinicke made an impression on Smith.
Now, the key for Heinicke is put to back-to-back solid performances together. That would be the next sign of his growth.
Washington faces the Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton in Week 11.
