Carson Wentz is an NFL quarterback again. The Los Angeles Rams signed the veteran signal-caller on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, ending a months-long stay in free agency during which Wentz didn’t generate any known interest.
Why did the Rams add Wentz now? Matthew Stafford missed Week 9 with a strained UCL in his right thumb. Is L.A. worried its starting QB could be sidelined for a significant period?
Why Did the Rams Sign Carson Wentz?
Stafford banged his thumb against a Dallas Cowboys defender’s helmet in Week 8, then aggravated the injury while hauling in a pass for a two-point conversion on a trick play.
With Stafford sidelined last week, the Rams turned to backup Brett Rypien, who made four starts for the Denver Broncos from 2020-22. Rypien struggled, completing fewer than half his attempts while finishing with the week’s sixth-worst QBR (24.1) in a 17-point loss to the Green Bay Packers.
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For Los Angeles, signing Wentz seems to be more about replacing Rypien than preparing for another Stafford absence. On Monday, head coach Sean McVay indicated that Stafford should be able to play when the Rams return from their Week 10 bye.
“Feel really good about Matthew and how much he’s attacked doing everything in his power to be back and to lead the way for this team,” McVay said. “And so we’re gonna look at a lot of different things over this break, but I’m optimistic that I don’t even think that’s something that we have to worry about.”
The Rams tried to sign John Wolford — in Los Angeles from 2020-22 — off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad last week, but the Bucs promoted the fourth-year QB rather than let L.A. poach him. The Rams instead promoted undrafted rookie free agent Dresser Winn from their practice squad to backup Rypien on Sunday.
Why Was Wentz Still a Free Agent?
Wentz spent the summer working out with former NFL head coach Jon Gruden. That could help explain why McVay, a branch on the Gruden coaching tree, added Wentz to the Rams’ roster.
But shouldn’t Wentz have been able to land a job before now? He was the clear top quarterback on the free agent market for months.
Wentz reportedly reached out to the New York Jets after Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury in Week 1, but Gang Green wasn’t interested. The Minnesota Vikings aren’t known to have contacted Wentz after losing Kirk Cousins, preferring to acquire Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals. And the New York Giants are rolling with UDFA Tommy DeVito while Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor are sidelined by injuries.
Wentz was essentially run out of town in both Indianapolis and Washington over the past two seasons. Speculatively, teams around the league might have been concerned about adding Wentz to their locker room.
Although Wentz isn’t expected to play immediately (or at all, unless Stafford suffers a setback), he only needs to look to the Rams’ 2022 campaign to see another quarterback who revitalized his career under McVay.
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Los Angeles claimed Baker Mayfield off waivers from the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 6. He started two days later and led the Rams to a miraculous comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders, then helped the club to a dominant 51-14 victory against the Broncos in Week 15.
While Mayfield only received $4 million from the Buccaneers this offseason, he did land another starting quarterback job. If Wentz is asked to step in for the Rams and plays well, he might be able to continue his career, too.
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