The Washington Commanders released quarterback Carson Wentz on Monday (Feb. 27), the team announced. They also released defensive back, Bobby McCain.
In just one season with the team, Wentz started seven games, going 2-5 while throwing 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions and accumulating a QBR of 33.0. He sustained a broken finger in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears and didn’t return to action until Week 16.
Commanders release QB Carson Wentz. pic.twitter.com/UtX1vv4Dzd
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2023
Releasing Wentz saves the Commanders $26.176 million on the salary cap this offseason and it was a move that was expected. With the hiring of new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Washington maintained that second-year QB Sam Howell will be the team’s starter, basically making it a formality that Wentz would be released or traded.
Howell started the last game of the season for the Commanders, throwing for 169 yards – a touchdown and a pick to go along with 35 rushing yards in the win.
The No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft by Philadelphia, Wentz was an MVP front-runner in 2017 before tearing his ACL in Week 14 against the Rams. In three more years with the Eagles, he was never able to replicate the success and was traded to Indianapolis in 2021 after losing the starting job to Jalen Hurts.
Wentz only lasted one year with the Colts, getting traded to Washington for two third-round picks and a second-round pick swap. In the release, the Commanders said they believed that Wentz could use his veteran experience to push them to the playoffs, but after missing over half the season with his injury, those hopes ultimately did not pan out.
Carson Wentz's last few years
2021: Traded by Eagles to the Colts
2022: Traded by Colts to the Commanders
2023: Cut by Commanders pic.twitter.com/MQLf01yKWI
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 27, 2023
The move leaves Taylor Heinicke and Howell as the only active quarterbacks on the Commanders’ roster. Heinicke started in nine games last year for Washington, going 5-3-1 while throwing 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Now with two failed experiments as a starter in as many years, the 30-year-old Wentz will likely sign a deal as a backup. Early rumors point towards the Carolina Panthers as a potential landing spot, as new head coach Frank Reich was Wentz’s offensive coordinator in Philly and his head coach in Indianapolis. The current Panthers quarterbacks are Sam Darnold, PJ Walker and Matt Corral.
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