Taylor Heinicke is settling in as a Washington Commanders backup. But he’s still a fan favorite.

Taylor Heinicke is settling into his new role as an NFL backup, but the fans’ enthusiasm for the former Old Dominion star quarterback hasn’t wavered at Washington Commanders training camp.

Heinicke started 15 games last season for Washington, but now is backing up Carson Wentz, a former Philadelphia and Indianapolis quarterback acquired in the offseason. Heinicke, though, still receives a warm welcome when he trots onto the Commanders’ practice facility in Ashburn, and he’s a popular player with fans seeking autographs.

“It’s cool,” Heinicke said in a press conference this week. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s nice to have people rooting for you. ... I’m just trying to do the best out there and do what I can, but it’s nice to have encouragement when I come on and off the field.”

Heinicke signed with Washington after impressing in the playoffs at the end of the 2020 season and became the starter last season after Ryan Fitzpatrick was injured in the opener. Heinicke finished 7-8 in his first full season as a starter, completing 66% of his passes for 3,419 yards and 20 touchdowns with 15 interceptions.

Wentz, a former No. 1 draft pick, signed a four-year pact worth $128 million, while Heinicke is in the final year of a contract that pays him a base salary of $1.5 million. The Commanders also used a fifth-round draft pick on quarterback Sam Howell of North Carolina.

The Commanders play their preseason opener Saturday afternoon at FedEx Field against Carolina. Heinicke and Howell have taken reps behind Wentz in training camp.

Heinicke’s gritty play and fearless throws last season won over Washington fans, but also led to some mistakes.

“This offense is one that we want to push it down the field,” Heinicke said. “I think the biggest part is just being smart while doing it, making the smart decision. So if it’s there, we take it, if it’s not, we give it to one of our backs and let them do their thing. So we’re all still learning, still trying to get better. Carson and I have a really good relationship and we try to help each other out out there.”

Heinicke has said he spent this offseason working out with quarterbacks coach Adam Dedeaux in Los Angeles, and this week he revealed another offseason activity: building massive Lego sets.

Heinicke built two Batmobile sets and two Star Wars sets, according to NBC Sports Washington and The Washington Post. The Star Wars sets included a 7,541-piece Millennium Falcon and a 6,785-piece AT-AT.

“Whenever I have time off, it’s something therapeutic for me to do to just keep my brain focused on something [other than] football,” Heinicke told The Post.

“A lot of fun,” Heinicke added about building the largest set, the Millennium Falcon. “Lots of details, but frustrating at points, too. There’s so many small pieces that I had no idea where that fell off from. So I’d go back to the instructions trying to find it. That was my favorite.”

While Heinicke is a popular autograph request at training camp, he also won over fans on social media this offseason when he posted pictures of his LEGO builds.

“The funniest thing about it is that’s probably the biggest hit I ever got on Instagram,” he told NBC Sports Washington. “I was getting so many [direct messages] like, ‘Keep going!’ ‘This is great!’ I didn’t know it would be such a hit.”

Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com