Taylor Heinicke has perfect response about being Carson Wentz’s backup

The Washington Commanders didn’t offload two draft picks and absorb a crippling $28 million salary cap hit for Carson Wentz to be their backup. The second the trade was made Wentz was penciled in as the Week 1 starter.

That’s obviously subject to change if Wentz wets the bed, but his performance for Indianapolis last season prior to the final two games suggests he’ll start all 17 contests for Washington assuming he remains healthy.

Despite his expensive contract, Wentz should be looking over his shoulder. After all, the Commanders have arguably the best backup QB in the league in Taylor Heinicke waiting in the wings after he led the team to a 7-8 record in 15 starts last year.

Heinicke proved in 2021 following Ryan Fitzpatrick’s season-ending injury that he could come off the bench cold and keep the offense humming.

After receiving the most playing time of his career, you’d understand if Heinicke was having trouble assuming his familiar backup role behind Wentz. That’s anything but the case, as the 29-year-old quarterback explained during a Wednesday appearance on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast.

Commanders QB Taylor Heinicke’s response to being Carson Wentz’s backup is exactly why fans love him.

Here’s what Heinicke said of being Wentz’s backup.

"“You look at the NFL, at the end of the day, it’s kind of a business,” Heinicke said. “If you’re paying somebody $30 million and someone else $2 million, you’re paying this guy $30 million to play. Carson’s a great quarterback. You see it through OTAs and minicamp. I hope he goes out and succeeds.My job is to back him up. Hopefully he’s on his deal, help him out in whatever way I can. If for some reason he goes down, I’ll be ready to play. That’s how I look at it. But again, the NFL is a business. If you’re paying a guy a lot of money, you’re paying him for a reason: it’s for him to play.”"

That, right there, is exactly why Heinicke’s become a fan favorite in Washington. On top of delivering countless memorable moments, which included authoring three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives last season, the Old Dominion product has never sugarcoated anything to the media.

Heinicke understands the NFL is a business first and foremost. While Wentz’s superior arm talent and ability to stretch the field will improve the Commanders’ offense, it helps the incumbent starter is due $28.3 million in 2022 as part of the four-year contract he originally inked with Philly back in 2019.

Heinicke, on the other hand, will pocket just $3.6 million in the final year of the two-year extension he signed in 2021 after he nearly led Washington to an improbable upset win against the Buccaneers in the playoffs the previous season.

There’s just nothing not to love about Heinicke’s answer. Not only does it reassure Wentz that he’s somewhere he’s wanted, but it prevents any controversy from ensuing before the team breaks for a month before it returns for training camp.

Heinicke knows the best way he can help the Commanders is to star in his role as a backup. That’s the definition of a selfless player. We know Heinicke thinks he has starter potential, but how could you not want Washington to sign him to a long-term contract to be the team’s annual backup and emergency starter?

He’s more than earned it, that’s for sure.