On Saturday, Taylor Heinicke was benched in the Washington Commanders’ loss to San Francisco and replaced by Carson Wentz. Head coach Ron Rivera now wants to completely re-evaluate the quarterback situation ahead of the remaining two games to keep their playoff hopes alive

Taylor Heinicke was benched in the final quarter of the Washington Commanders’ 20-37 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, with Carson Wentz taking over at the quarterback position.

However, Ron Rivera did not want to see this as a punishment or a changing of the guard. But rather as a re-evaluation of the quarterback situation.

“It was a chance to see where Carson was at and he did a good job. We have a pretty good situation now,” the Commanders head coach said.

Rivera avoided committing to a new starting quarterback. He was “not sure if it’s going to be a permanent decision,” Rivera said of replacing Heinicke and the quarterback swap with an eye on the remaining two games of the regular season.

Commanders ahead of crucial games

So the quarterback race appears to be wide open ahead of the final two games.

And the games will be crucial: The Commanders sit in seventh place in the NFC for the final playoff spot in the conference with a record of seven wins and seven losses and one tie. The Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions are breathing down the Commanders’ necks and are also still hoping to make it to the knockout stage.

Washington Commanders: Rivera announces quick decision on starting quarterback

The Regular Season ends for the Commanders with two home games, in Week 17 the team faces the Cleveland Browns. In Week 18, the Dallas Cowboys come to FedExField in Washington.

Rivera announced he will announce “early in the new week” who will be the starting quarterback in those two games and shoulder the Commanders’ playoff hopes.

Before that, he said, the 60-year-old wants to rehash the loss to the 49ers and consult with his offensive coaches.

Washington Commanders: quarterback has been changed before

The Commanders had already changed their starter once during the course of the season: Carson Wentz was the Commanders’ starting quarterback in the first six games of the current season. However, he only picked up two wins and lost four games.

In week seven, Taylor Heinicke took over the reins. The signal caller picked up five wins and four losses in nine games.

The team last made the playoffs in 2020, but was eliminated in the first round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.