Brian Baldinger_ the Rams Have Nothing to Lose by Signing Carson Wentz _ The Rich Eisen Show
- 6 months ago
Carson Wentz is back in the NFL.
The quarterback, who was a free agent until Tuesday, is reportedly signing with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are currently dealing with a quarterback injury and need a backup they can rely on. Matt Stafford sustained a UCL injury in his right thumb (the one on his throwing hand) during the Rams' Week 8 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving the game early in the third quarter. He was replaced by backup Brett Rypien, who started Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers.
But Rypien's start did not go well, ending as an embarrassing and humbling 20-3 loss at Lambeau Field on Sunday. So it appears that the Rams dove into the free agent quarterback bin and came up with Wentz. Rypien is reportedly being waived.
As a starting quarterback, the last few years have not been kind to Wentz. He hit his peak in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles, turning in an MVP-caliber season that came to a sudden stop in Week 14 when he busted his knee. After watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl with his backup under center, he turned in two middling seasons before Philly drafted Jalen Hurts in April 2020, which set Wentz on the path he now trods.
Wentz reportedly felt threatened that Eagles GM Howie Roseman chose to draft a standout college QB in the second round, and it showed in his play. Wentz threw 16 touchdowns over 12 games (along with five rushing TDs) while tossing 14 interceptions and completing just 57.4% of his passes. He reportedly stopped speaking to then-head coach Doug Pederson, who benched him in the middle of Week 13. He never took another snap for the Eagles.
Things didn't get much better after that. Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, and his lone season there ended with him throwing an interception in the final play of Week 17, eliminating the team from the playoffs. He was traded to the Washington Commanders in 2022, where he got benched midseason in favor of Taylor Heinicke.
All of that would seem to count against him as a starter, but as a backup? Wentz has a ton of NFL experience, and he hasn't played yet this season so he's fresh and healthy. And he almost certainly has to be better than Rypien. That's really all the Rams are looking for, since the team is optimistic Stafford will return after the Week 10 bye.
The quarterback, who was a free agent until Tuesday, is reportedly signing with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams are currently dealing with a quarterback injury and need a backup they can rely on. Matt Stafford sustained a UCL injury in his right thumb (the one on his throwing hand) during the Rams' Week 8 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving the game early in the third quarter. He was replaced by backup Brett Rypien, who started Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers.
But Rypien's start did not go well, ending as an embarrassing and humbling 20-3 loss at Lambeau Field on Sunday. So it appears that the Rams dove into the free agent quarterback bin and came up with Wentz. Rypien is reportedly being waived.
As a starting quarterback, the last few years have not been kind to Wentz. He hit his peak in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles, turning in an MVP-caliber season that came to a sudden stop in Week 14 when he busted his knee. After watching the Eagles win the Super Bowl with his backup under center, he turned in two middling seasons before Philly drafted Jalen Hurts in April 2020, which set Wentz on the path he now trods.
Wentz reportedly felt threatened that Eagles GM Howie Roseman chose to draft a standout college QB in the second round, and it showed in his play. Wentz threw 16 touchdowns over 12 games (along with five rushing TDs) while tossing 14 interceptions and completing just 57.4% of his passes. He reportedly stopped speaking to then-head coach Doug Pederson, who benched him in the middle of Week 13. He never took another snap for the Eagles.
Things didn't get much better after that. Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, and his lone season there ended with him throwing an interception in the final play of Week 17, eliminating the team from the playoffs. He was traded to the Washington Commanders in 2022, where he got benched midseason in favor of Taylor Heinicke.
All of that would seem to count against him as a starter, but as a backup? Wentz has a ton of NFL experience, and he hasn't played yet this season so he's fresh and healthy. And he almost certainly has to be better than Rypien. That's really all the Rams are looking for, since the team is optimistic Stafford will return after the Week 10 bye.