Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz will be out roughly four to six weeks with a fractured ring finger, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The Commanders are considering placing Wentz on injured reserved.
Wentz is set for surgery to repair his fractured finger later Monday in Los Angeles, Rapoport adds. In the meantime, Taylor Heinicke thrusts into the starting quarterback role for Washington.
Wentz banged his hand into the swiping hand of Chicago Bears defensive lineman Justin Jones on Thursday Night Football. He did not miss a snap but his level of discomfort was clear.
This is a pivotal season for Wentz’s career. The former second-overall draft pick in 2016, is now on his third team in three years. Wentz got traded in each of the past two offseasons by the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts, respectively.
Through six games, Wentz’s play has been subpar in crucial moments. Wentz has completed 62.1% of his passes for 1,489 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, he has six interceptions and has been sacked a league-high 23 times.
In Week 5, Carson Wentz threw a game-sealing interception on the goal line in the Commanders’ 21-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Despite the win in Week 6 against the Bears, Wentz had 99 passing yards.
The Commanders turn to a familiar face in the absence of Wentz. Heinicke started 15 games last season for Washington after Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a season-ending hip injury. Heinicke’s limitations are glaring, yet, he is a fan-favorite of Commanders fans.
Now, Heinicke gets another shot as a starting quarterback in the short term. He knows Scott Turner’s system and gets to give the Commanders a different touch on offense.
