When Rivera was fired by the Panthers late within the 2019 season, Turner was elevated to interim offensive coordinator and play-caller, affording him a four-game tryout of types for his subsequent function — at a spot he is aware of effectively. Turner went to highschool in Northern Virginia when his father, Norv, was Washington’s coach from 1994 to 2000.
“I used to be simply ready with a plan of what I would love our offense to seem like, how we’d develop Dwayne [Haskins], our younger quarterback or all of our gamers,” Turner stated throughout his introductory convention name in 2020. “I met with Coach Rivera after which after a little bit little bit of time he supplied me the job after which clearly I accepted.”
The Commanders have ranked within the backside quarter of the league in complete yards (twenty eighth), passing yards (twenty fifth) and scoring (twenty sixth), partly due to turnover on the quarterback place. The group has featured six starters since 2020 and traded for Carson Wentz final week.
Final season, after Ryan Fitzpatrick was misplaced to harm within the season opener, Washington turned to Taylor Heinicke, a free agent signed as an emergency possibility on the top of the coronavirus pandemic. Heinicke labored with Turner for Minnesota after which Carolina however had been out of the NFL for almost a yr earlier than Turner introduced him again.
“He’s one of many principal causes I’m nonetheless within the NFL and even acquired an opportunity to begin within the NFL,” Heinicke stated in January. “And I say begin — I imply even simply acquired a shot in Minnesota my rookie yr. So he’s in all probability the principle man that acquired me on this league and stored me on this league, and I form of take my expertise with him and my journey with him and I attempt to inform it to the younger children again residence. I practice them, ‘All it takes is one man to love you, so don’t care about what the opposite individuals say, should you can’t play, can’t do that, can’t try this.’ All it takes is one dude.’ ”
Retaining Turner for 3 extra years offers continuity the place there was little in Washington. Wentz has three seasons left on his contract. His salaries for 2023 and 2024 should not assured, so the group may half with him for free of charge if issues go bitter this season. However ought to he impress, the Commanders’ quarterback and play-caller are locked in by way of 2024.
Additionally, the Commanders re-signed cornerback/particular teamer Troy Apke to a one-year contract, doubtlessly setting the stage for a collection of strikes within the coming days. Free company formally begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
