NFL insider: Carson Wentz eyeing potential backup opportunity with Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs could bring in Carson Wentz as Patrick Mahomes’ new backup quarterback, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Wentz, who was released by the Washington Commanders this offseason, is still a free agent after going through the third team of his career. The former No. 2 overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles hasn’t been able to quite recapture the early career magic as of late.
Speaking of the Eagles, Chiefs coach Andy Reid could get an old Philadelphia connection if he brings in Wentz to backup Mahomes.
“Yeah, so there’s a back pocket item because they signed Blaine Gabbert, they have Shane Buechele, so they feel pretty good about the backup quarterbacks,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “But Carson Wentz and the Chiefs did talk this offseason. There was some dialogue about Wentz potentially joining the Chiefs maybe down the road, or at least, you know, keeping that communication open.
“And I was told the Chiefs were fairly receptive to that idea. Certainly they respect the talent. And I was told Wentz is open to getting to a championship-type team, getting into a new winning culture, where he can learn, you know, sit behind a Patrick Mahomes.”
Carson Wentz to the Chiefs?
Once an MVP candidate with the Eagles, Wentz played under Doug Pederson, who coached under Reid once upon a time. On the surface, based on offensive schemes, it makes sense for Wentz and the Chiefs.
Last season though, Wentz went 2-5 as a starter and threw for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 62.3% completion percentage.
“And so this is a situation where he’s still a free agent,” Fowler said. “He’s played for three different teams, started a lot of games, so he’s sort of waiting this out to see what opportunities arise. He has been training in Los Angeles and we’ll see what shakes out.”
In his career, Wentz has 22,129 yards, 151 touchdowns, 66 interceptions and a 62.6% completion percentage. He still holds the Eagles’ all-time single season touchdown record (33) in 2017, before he tore his ACL prior to Philadelphia winning the Super Bowl.
Nick Foles piloted the team the rest of the way before Wentz returned in 2018. While he put up decent numbers, such as a career high 4,039 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2019, Wentz never got back to his Year 2 level.
Following a disastrous 2020 season where he was replaced by Jalen Hurts for the final four games, the Eagles traded Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, where he went 9-8 as a starter but missed out on the postseason. Wentz also threw 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions that season.
The former No. 2 overall pick in 2016 played his college football at North Dakota State.