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The Indianapolis Colts took a gamble by trading for Carson Wentz to replace Philip Rivers for the 2021 season. While Wentz wasn't bad overall, the season ended on a sour note, with the veteran quarterback putting up an absolute stinker in a season-ending loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts simply needed to beat the worst team in the NFL to reach the playoffs, but Wentz laid an egg when it really mattered, ultimately resulting in a trade to the Washington Commanders.
Wentz spoke to the media for the first time since the trade on Thursday. While the new Commanders quarterback admitted he was “definitely surprised” by the trade, he also acknowledged that his awful finish to the season likely played a starring role in the decision to move him:
Carson Wentz calls the last couple weeks a "whirlwind." Says he was "definitely surprised" by the trade. "When you're in a new place you want it to work out. God willing it works out for a long time. It didn't."
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 17, 2022
Asked why he’s no longer with the Colts, Carson Wentz says “the way I finished was poor…I didn’t play well enough at the end there”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 17, 2022
Wentz was much better for the Colts than he was in his last season for the Philadelphia Eagles, when he was one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL. In 2021, Wentz threw for 3,563 yards and 27 touchdowns while tossing just seven interceptions. He completed 62.4% of his passes and finished with a QB rating of 94.6. Again, certainly not bad numbers, so the Commanders can take some solace in that.
But, also again, that Jaguars performance was just a train wreck. He completed 17-of-29 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also got sacked six times and lost a fumble in the humiliating 26-11 loss. The Colts also lost 23-20 to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17, with Wentz not performing well in that game either.
Washington was desperate for a new quarterback this offseason, leading to them giving up draft capital for Wentz's services. He now returns to the NFC East after his Eagles stint, and the Commanders are hoping he can lift them in the 2022 season.
