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Taylor Heinicke on backup duty again Week 18 for Washington

Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke will be the backup to rookie Sam Howell in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys, per head coach Ron Rivera.

What It Means:

Heinicke will remain on backup duty to close out the season, but it will be behind Howell instead of Carson Wentz. A previous report said Heinicke was expected to start and that Howell would be the backup. Howell, a fifth-round rookie, hasn't played in the regular season.

Among the 44 quarterbacks with at least 100 drop backs this season, Heinicke is 31st and Wentz is 32nd in Passing Net Expected Points per attempt (negative-0.02). Howell will have a tough task versus a Cowboys team that has the No. 5 pass defense and No. 3 overall defense in numberFire's season-long adjusted team rankings. Dallas is also allowing the seventh-fewest FanDuel points per game to the quarterback position this season.