WFT TE Logan Thomas confident in team's QB room originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
When the Washington Football Team arrives in Richmond, Va. for training camp there will be having an open competition for the starting quarterback job, head coach Ron Rivera told local media at the team's minicamp on Thursday. While Ryan Fitzpatrick, the veteran, is the overwhelming favorite to nab the starting job, Rivera said he was looking forward to seeing Taylor Heinicke push him.
Speaking with The Sports Junkies on Friday, WFT tight end Logan Thomas was asked how the two quarterbacks performed during OTAs and minicamp. The Washington tight end gave a boost of confidence for both signal-callers.
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"Both of the guys have done a great job," Thomas said.
Thomas said that part of the reason Heinicke arguably played better than Fitzpatrick during minicamp and OTAs is his knowledge of offensive coordinator Scott Turner's system, as he's played under him for multiple years and not just in Washington.
Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, has never played under Turner. While the veteran has plenty of experience learning new systems, it still takes time. That's part of what spring practices are for, after all.
"Taylor has been in [Scott Turner's] system for five years, so he's definitely more comfortable running the system than Fitz is," Thomas said. "Fitz is learning the system, learning the plays, learning the guys and what people like and what people don't like, just trying to figure out what's going on. Instead [with] Taylor, he's like 'this is my read here,' boom, boom, check it down. Fitz will be just fine."
Although there will be a quarterback competition to figure out who the team's starter will be, Thomas said he's confident in whichever passer ends up winning the gig, including Kyle Allen, who was part of the starting rotation last season before being sidelined with an ankle injury.
"Taylor has played great, Kyle has played great and Fitz is coming along," Thomas said. "It's one of those things, Ron said yesterday there is going to be a training camp battle, but I wouldn't have any reason to doubt any of the three. I think all three are going to do well and I'm excited to see what happens this season."
Thomas, who hauled in a career-high 72 catches and six touchdowns last season, was a breakout star on Washington's offense in 2020. With the offseason additions of Fitzpatrick, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries, Dyami Brown and others, Thomas said he thinks this team can be a lot better and more explosive come the fall.
"There's definitely a different feel, different vibe around this team," Thomas said.
