Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke added to the COVID list

It’s official; the Washington Football Team is in significant trouble Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke was added to the reserve’COVID-19 list Friday, becoming the 22nd Washington player on the list.

Backup quarterback Kyle Allen is already on the COVID list. That leaves Kyle Shurmur as Washington’s potential starting quarterback for Sunday’s important division game.

There is a chance, per the NFL’s updated COVID policies, that Allen could return for Sunday, but he’d be required to test out of the COVID protocol by Saturday at the latest.

Washington signed Garrett Gilbert Friday, giving it three quarterbacks — two who signed this week, including Jordan Ta’amu. Of the three, only Gilbert has ever started an NFL game. Gilbert’s lone NFL start came in 2020 with the Cowboys.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Washington will not officially name a starting quarterback until Sunday.

Shurmur signed with Washington’s practice squad on Sept. 13. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Vanderbilt in 2019. He has spent time on the rosters of Kansas City and Cincinnati but has never played in an NFL game. He is the son of former Browns and Giants head coach Pat Shurmur — now the offensive coordinator of the Broncos.

At 6-7, Washington is currently holding on to the final playoff spot in the NFC. The Eagles are among the teams competing with Washington for that final playoff spot.