The Washington Football Team will be down both quarterbacks on their active roster Sunday, as Taylor Heinicke was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, joining No. 2 quarterback Kyle Allen (who was placed on the list earlier this week). CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson reports both Heinicke and Allen both tested positive, and both are vaccinated.
For either to start on Sunday, they would have to have two negative tests beforehand. Washington is not expected to make a decision on its starter for Sunday's game against the Eagles until game time. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Football Team will sign Garrett Gilbert on Friday, and Gilbert would be in line to start Sunday's game. Washington also has Kyle Shurmur and Jordan Ta'amu as practice squad quarterbacks on the roster. The Football Team signed Ta'amu Thursday, while Shurmur has been on the practice squad throughout the year.
Heinicke had already been questionable to start in Week 15 before his positive test, as he was dealing with a knee injury. He left week 14 agains the Cowboys and did not return (here's an in-depth look at exactly what WFT is likely to do on Sunday).
With Allen still being vaccinated, he still has an opportunity to start Sunday's game, as long as he has two negative tests within a 24-hour span. If Allen is unavailable, Gilbert appears to be the frontrunner for the job -- with the final wild card spot in the NFC hanging in the balance.
Gilbert has started one game in his NFL career, going 21 of 38 for 243 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Dallas Cowboys in a 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Prior to last season, Gilbert threw just three passes in his NFL career -- all with the Cleveland Browns.
Interestingly enough, both Gilbert and Ta'amu have a connection to Heinicke. Ta'amu beat out Heinicke for the starting quarterback job for the XFL's St. Louis Battlehawks in 2020 and Heinicke beat out Gilbert for the No. 2 quarterback job with the Carolina Panthers in 2018.
Washington and Philadelphia are tied with 6-7 records, but the Football Team holds the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC based on having a better division record. Both teams meet twice over the next three weeks.
