LANDOVER, Md. – Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke did not win the game; he, however, won a team – and perhaps more.
Heinicke, holder of injured Alex Smith, made plays with his arm and legs – but not enough – in Washington’s 31-23 loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoff wild card round on Saturday. Heinicke failed to win, but completed 26 of 44 passes for 306 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He ran to score too.
And a player who has been out of the league for almost two years proved a point.
“I deserve to be in this league a little longer,” said Heinicke, a pending free agent. “I was on the other side, not playing and it’s not fun, it’s not as much fun as that.”
In the process, Heinicke also garnered the support of his teammates – and even a star player from another team. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is represented by the same agency as Heinicke, tweeted your approval performance.
After the game, Washington receiver Terry McLaurin talked to Heinicke when they left the field. McLaurin just wanted him to know how much he appreciated him.
“I will be fourth on my team any day of the week, twice on Sunday,” said McLaurin. “I hope that we will be teammates in the future.
“That guy plays without fear. He’s going to give players a chance to make plays. He extends plays, he runs, he takes hits. He does everything you ask a defender to do in this league. … He gave us a chance.”
Heinicke didn’t know it was going to start until coach Ron Rivera told him Friday afternoon. However, Washington kept its decision a secret until several hours before the game. Smith was bothered by a strain on his right calf and, with Tampa Bay known for its defensive pressure, his inability to escape would be very expensive.
“We didn’t want to put him in a bad situation,” said Rivera.
He later said, “We were really excited about giving [Heinicke] that opportunity. “
Heinicke ran six times for 46 yards and scored in an 8-yard run at the end of the third quarter. In that move, his first three options were covered and his pocket was being pinched. Somehow, he ducked under pressure and slipped through an opening in his pocket. He fired into the left sideline and dived into the end zone, the ball hitting the post. In the process, he suffered a separation of the AC joint in his left shoulder.
“I wanted to do that touchdown,” he said.
In the next series, he was hit hard twice and went to the sideline with obvious pain. He then ran to the locker room, but returned without missing a set.
“His courage, his willingness to fight, his willingness to compete,” said cornerman Kendall Fuller when asked what he saw in Heinicke. “It definitely motivated the whole team.”
When Washington called in December, Heinicke was taking four math courses at Old Dominion University. It was final exam week; he was allowed to take two of the finals after the season.
Washington liked that Heinicke knew about offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s system, having played there for two years with the Minnesota Vikings and one with the Carolina Panthers. That was when he had his only departure before Saturday. He left that game with an elbow injury that later required surgery. Durability has been an issue for the 6-foot, 210-pound Heinicke.
He was dismissed by Carolina in the final preseason cuts in August 2019 and spent the year out of football. He ended up signing with the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks, but did not play in any of his five games. The end seemed close for the 2015 undeveloped free agent.
He impressed his Washington teammates.
“The way he behaves, he is a true professional,” said Morgan Moses of Washington. “I can’t tell you why he was on the street before we caught him. He has all the qualities of a player you want. I’m glad I chose him. There are no words to explain the performance he had today. on a big stage, and I praise you for that. “
Moses had seen Heinicke play some in college.
“The guy is an incredible player,” said Moses. “He has that ‘That’ factor and you can’t teach that.”
That ‘it’ factor paid off in the series after Heinicke returned from his injury. He led a 75-yard touchdown with a beautiful 11-yard pass to Steven Sims Jr., taking him to the corner of the end zone.
“It was brave,” said Rivera. “The young man won an opportunity.”
He will now have to wait a while to see if, or when, the next one will emerge.
“Everything that happened in the last month and a half, to go there and do that, I am proud of myself, happy that the coaches believe me and give me the opportunity,” said Heinicke. “I hope to be able to do that next year.”