-
Kris Rhim, ESPN
LOS ANGELES — It is virtually at all times been this manner for Taylor Heinicke.
Heinicke, the Chargers backup quarterback, who the group signed lower than a month in the past, stood on the sideline of Sunday’s sport towards the Pittsburgh Steelers, anticipated to engineer a comeback after quarterback Justin Herbert aggravated a excessive proper ankle sprain.
It is a function Heinicke has grown snug in over his seven seasons within the NFL, largely as a backup and filling in for injured or benched starters. Sunday was the most recent chapter, towards a fierce Pittsburgh protection in its house opener, surrounded by followers waving yellow towels.
This time, nonetheless, the e-book did not have a fairytale end. Heinicke spent a lot of the sport on his again, sacked thrice in 4 dropbacks. He completed the sport 2 of two for 20 yards and the Chargers misplaced 20-10. Nonetheless, they might lean on Heinicke once more this Sunday towards the Kansas City Chiefs as Herbert nurses his damage.
Whether it is Heinicke Sunday, it’s going to be his thirtieth begin within the NFL, an unlikely final result for a participant who went undrafted out of Outdated Dominion in 2015 however earned a spot within the NFL with memorable massive video games in aid for starters.
“It is a troublesome spot,” Heinicke mentioned, “however I really feel like my entire profession has been like that.”
Tough is probably an understatement for what Heinicke could possibly be strolling into Sunday. The Chargers will tackle one of the best group of this period within the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, who’re 3-0 this season, with nearly all of the Chargers’ high gamers sidelined or nagging accidents. The checklist consists of Herbert (ankle), tackles Joe Alt (knee) and Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and go rusher Joey Bosa (hip).
However Heinicke has thrived in non-advantageous circumstances earlier than.
The 2020 NFL season was a turning level in his profession. He was with Washington, and Commanders quarterback Alex Smith was dominated out of the group’s first-round playoff sport towards the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers. It was Heinicke’s second profession begin, however he appeared like he belonged. He threw for 306 yards and one landing, main the group in speeding with 46 yards.
His finest play of the sport might have come within the third quarter when the Commanders have been down 18-10 and dealing with a third-and-5. Heinicke escaped a collapsing pocket and scrambled 9 yards for a diving rating. It prompted linebacker Chase Young to seize and level at Heinicke’s nameplate whereas taking a look at TV cameras. The Commanders misplaced 31-23, however Heinicke gained the respect of the NFL that evening.
“I should be on this league a bit of longer,” Heinicke mentioned then. “I have been on the opposite aspect not enjoying and it is not enjoyable, not as enjoyable as this.”
After the sport, Washington vast receiver Terry McLaurin talked to Heinicke as they exited the sector. McLaurin wished to let Heinicke know the way a lot he appreciated him.
“I am going to take No. 4 on my group any day of the week, twice on Sunday,” McLaurin mentioned. “I hope we’re teammates sooner or later.
“That dude performs with no worry. He will give his gamers an opportunity to make performs. He extends performs, he runs, he takes hits. He does every thing you ask a quarterback to do on this league.
Heinicke began 24 video games for the Commanders over the following two seasons, together with 15 in 2021. His finest second over that span got here in the course of the 2021 season, a win over the Falcons the place Heinicke scrambled to his left and threw again to his proper for a 30-yard landing go to operating again J.D. McKissic with 33 seconds remaining, incomes Washington a 34-30 victory over Atlanta.
Heinicke’s efficiency was so spectacular that it might have earned him a spot in Atlanta. The Falcons signed him forward of the 2023 season, the place he began 4 video games and completed 1-3. Heinicke spent coaching camp this season with the Falcons earlier than the Chargers traded a conditional sixth-round decide for him. Throughout coaching camp, he sat behind quarterback Kirk Cousins and rookie Michael Penix Jr.; Cousins described Heinicke as a “nice useful resource” and was unhappy to see him traded.
“We’ll be actually pulling for him, this sport or nonetheless lengthy he performs,” Cousins mentioned. “He simply has an awesome really feel for the place. And I simply respect the trail he took to get the place he bought. It is one factor to form of have all people pave the way in which for you, however when you did not have that, it says one thing about who you might be as an individual and a participant since you do have to beat a lot, and he is carried out that.”
There’s nonetheless an opportunity Heinicke does not play Sunday; Herbert mentioned Wednesday that he’s “doing every thing to play” this weekend and that his ankle is feeling higher. If Heinicke does begin, he’ll have had lower than a month with the playbook, doubtlessly enjoying with a principally injured offensive line, and towards top-of-the-line groups within the NFL.
However, at this level, Heinicke’s turn into comfortable in chaos.
“I believe any quarterback would really feel strain since you need to go on the market and win video games and that is our essential objective,” Heinicke mentioned. “I do not really feel the strain to show to different groups. I really feel the strain of going to win.”
NFL reporters John Keim and Marc Raimondi contributed to this story.
