Washington Commanders quarterback, Taylor Heinicke, went undrafted in 2015 after playing college football at Old Dominion. The Vikings gave him his initial NFL opportunity, but he’d eventually be released after two seasons of being a backup.

Heinicke later signed with the Patriots’ practice squad but was cut shortly afterward. He made his NFL debut with the Texans on Christmas 2017, completing one pass before suffering a concussion, and was waived by the team a few months later.

The Panthers claimed him off waivers and Heineke appeared in six games during the 2018 season. Named the starter in week 16 (after Cam Newton was injured), Heinicke suffered an elbow injury during the game and it ended his season. He resigned with the Panthers in 2019 but didn’t make the final roster. Heinicke then joined the XFL, although he never played.

Later on, in 2020, Heinicke finally made it to Washington, signing to the practice squad. After injuries to the team’s other QBs, Heinicke started the Wild Card playoff game, and he kept it close but they lost to the Bucs.

Then in 2021, he was brought back to Washington as a backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick and after an injury to Fitzpatrick became the starter. He played well at times and Washington kept him for the 2022 season, but once again as a backup, this time to Carson Wentz.

While this wild journey continues, Heinicke has replaced the injured Wentz. As the fill-in starter for the last five games, he’s helped Washington go 4-1. After yesterday’s 23-10 win over Houston, head coach, Ron Rivera, announced that Heinicke would remain the starter going forward, even as Wentz returns from injury.

Heinicke was sleeping on his sister’s couch two years ago and now after years of being a fill-in, a backup, and a journeyman, he’s secured a starting role as the quarterback of the Commanders.

Because of his story and perspective, Heinicke understands how much this means, what it’s like to be on the outside looking in, and what it’s like to have so much uncertainty.

After a crazy career up until this point, he now has the chance to grow more and more into an established NFL starting quarterback.

When you listen to Heinicke in interviews, he gets emotional, he’s filled with gratitude, and he’s humbly embracing being named the starter without taking it for granted.

Knowing where he’s been, and the challenges he’s faced to get to this point, Heinicke appreciates the opportunity he’s received and now wants to play like a secure starter.

When it comes to our paths that led us to Christ, many of us can look back and remember what it was like to be searching and hoping to find something secure.

We know what it’s like to be on the outside looking in. We were a journeyman going from one team to the next, thinking the next “team” would be what we were looking for until we got “cut” and were left wandering again.

Hopefully, that empty life has ended for each of us because Jesus invites us to remain “a starter” with Him, to be established on His team, and to secure the opportunity to know Him and be built up in Him.

Colossians 2:6-7 (AMP) tells us, “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.”

When we think about where we used to be and what life was like before we received salvation and Jesus transformed us, are we filled with humility while overflowing with gratitude?

Do we get emotional as we’re overcome with appreciation and thanksgiving for what God has done in our lives and the opportunity He’s given us to receive Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord?

This Thanksgiving week, let’s reflect on our journeys and those questions as we praise the One who rescued us. Let’s live in a way where we are becoming more and more established in our faith and abounding in thanksgiving.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for taking Your love and grace for granted. I’m so thankful for the life I have rooted in You. You made a way for me to know You and You rescued me from my former way of life. When I reflect on my journey, I overflow with gratitude. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.