"Arrr! The scurvy Rams be givin' young Carson Wentz his first start in o'er a year, as the playoffs be drawin' near!"
2024-01-03
With the mighty Rams already sailin' to the NFL Playoffs, Carson Wentz, a swashbucklin' Super Bowl champ with the Eagles, be settin' sail for his first start in over a year, alongside the valiant Matthew Stafford. Avast, me hearties!
The Los Angeles Rams have decided to start Super Bowl champion Carson Wentz at quarterback in Week 18 to give their regular starter, Matthew Stafford, some much-needed rest before the NFL playoffs. Wentz, who previously won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, has not thrown a pass in an NFL game since January 1, 2023, when he played for the Washington Commanders.Since the Rams have already secured a playoff spot in the NFC, head coach Sean McVay saw this as an opportunity to temporarily hand over the reins to Wentz. Wentz will be facing off against the San Francisco 49ers, who are the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will have backup Blaine Gabbert in for Brock Purdy at quarterback.
Wentz joined the Rams in November after Los Angeles released Stafford's backup, Brett Rypien. This will be Wentz's fourth team in four seasons, showcasing the frequent changes he has experienced throughout his career.
The 31-year-old signal-caller began his career in Philadelphia as the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He had a successful start, earning a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors in his second season. However, an injury prevented him from potentially having an MVP season, and backup Nick Foles led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory.
Wentz remained the starter in Philadelphia until the 2020 season, where he struggled and dealt with back injuries. The Eagles eventually traded him to the Indianapolis Colts, where he led the team to a 9-8 record but fell short of the playoffs. Last season, Wentz was traded to the Commanders, where he initially started before being benched in favor of Taylor Heinecke.
This opportunity with the Rams allows Wentz to prove himself as a reliable backup for Stafford and demonstrate that he can still be a valuable quarterback in the league.