Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) looks to pass during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Chiefs sign ex-Patriots QB Bailey Zappe to practice squad

Quarterback Bailey Zappe apparently wasn’t unemployed long.

Multiple outlets reported Wednesday that Zappe, who was released Tuesday by the New England Patriots, will be signing the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.

Contract terms were not reported.

Also Wednesday, NFL Network said the Chiefs were signing veteran running back Samaje Perine to their active roster.

Zappe, 25, will join entrenched All-Pro starter Patrick Mahomes and backup quarterback Carson Wentz in the quarterback room.

Zappe played in 14 games the past two seasons, starting eight, for the Patriots and was 4-4. He completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,053 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

While Zappe, 25, relieved an ineffective Mac Jones last season, he was buried on the QB roster this spring and summer behind veteran Jacoby Brissett and rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton III. Maye was the No. 3 overall pick of the draft, while Milton was taken in the sixth round.

Zappe was 15-of-25 passing for 137 yards in the preseason.

Perine, who turns 29 next month, was cut Tuesday by the Denver Broncos and teams got day to a required 53-man roster.

A fourth-round draft pick in 2017, Perine has played for Washington (2017-19), the Miami Dolphins (2019), Cincinnati Bengals (2019-22) and Broncos.

He appeared in 17 games (one start) in Denver and gained 693 yards from scrimmage with a touchdown.

In 93 career games (12 starts), he has 3,021 rushing and receiving yards and 14 scores.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Carson Wentz (11) reacts during the first half against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rams to rest Matthew Stafford, start Carson Wentz in finale

The Los Angeles Rams will rest starting quarterback Matthew Stafford in their season-finale this week and turn the ball over to primary backup Carson Wentz against the San Francisco 49ers.

Rams coach Sean McVay announced the move Wednesday, three days after his team secured a playoff spot.

The start will mark Wentz’s first since Jan. 2, 2023, his final game in a Washington Commanders uniform. Wentz made a brief cameo this season in mop-up duty on Nov. 26, a 37-14 Rams’ win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Rams are sitting Stafford despite the possibility of slipping from the sixth seed in the NFC to No. 7. If the Rams (9-7) lose to the 49ers and the Green Bay Packers defeat the visiting Chicago Bears, then the Rams will be the seventh seed for the playoffs.

Stafford, 35, has thrown for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions this season. He missed just one game due to injury, Week 9 against Green Bay, a 20-3 loss. The Rams went with Brett Rypien in that contest and released him two days later.

The Rams signed Wentz the same day, Nov. 7.

Wentz will make a start for his fourth different team in four years. The 31-year-old is 46-45-1 lifetime as the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles (2016-20), Indianapolis Colts (2021) and Commanders (2022). He has thrown for 22,129 yards, 151 TDs and 66 INTs.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA;  Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) runs onto the field before the start of the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Carson Wentz works with Jon Gruden, eyes comeback

Carson Wentz has been throwing and studying with former NFL head coach Jon Gruden in Tampa, Fla., as the free agent quarterback eyes a return to the league, ESPN reported.

Wentz, 30, said he intends to play in 2023 and is waiting for the “right situation,” per the report.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Wentz was traded away by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 and by the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 before being cut by the Washington Commanders on Feb. 27.

Wentz passed for 1,755 yards and 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions in just eight games (seven starts) in 2022. He started the first six games of the season and was placed on injured reserve after breaking his finger. He went 2-5 as the starter.

He has thrown for 22,129 yards and 151 TDs against 66 INTs in 93 career games (92 starts). He has a career record of 46-45-1 as a starting QB. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017 with the Eagles.

Gruden, 59, compiled a 117-112 record in 15 seasons as the head coach of the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (1998-2001, 2018-21) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-08).

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders’ Carson Wentz designated to return to practice

The Washington Commanders designated quarterback Carson Wentz to return to practice Wednesday.

It remains to be seen whether the veteran has the starting job, however.

Taylor Heinicke has guided Washington (6-5) to a 4-1 record since taking over for Wentz in Week 7.

Wentz, 29, landed on injured reserve on Oct. 22 after fracturing the ring finger on his right (throwing) hand during the Commanders’ Week 6 win at Chicago. The injury required surgery and he wasn’t cleared to throw until last week.

The Commanders now have a 21-day window to add Wentz to the active roster. Head coach Ron Rivera has said the plan is to prepare Wentz to back up Heinicke.

Wentz completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,489 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in six starts (2-4 record) this season.

Washington acquired Wentz in a March 9 trade with the Indianapolis Colts. The No. 2 overall pick in 2016, he owns a 46-44-1 record as a starter with 150 touchdown passes for the Philadelphia Eagles (2016-20), Colts and Commanders.

Heinicke, 29, has completed 60.8 percent of his throws for 1,031 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions in five starts heading into Sunday’s game against the visiting Atlanta Falcons (5-6).

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) jogs off the field after the Commanders' game against the Tennessee Titans at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders QB Carson Wentz placed on injured reserve

The Washington Commanders placed quarterback Carson Wentz on injured reserve Saturday.

The move comes after he fractured his finger during Washington’s 12-7 victory over the Chicago Bears on Oct. 13. He then underwent surgery on Monday in Los Angeles.

Wentz, 29, is required to miss four games as a result of being placed on injured reserve. Those games include road clashes against two former teams: the Indianapolis Colts (Oct. 30) and Philadelphia Eagles (Nov. 14).

Wentz has thrown for 1,489 yards with 10 touchdowns against six interceptions in six games this season.

He has completed 62.6 percent of his passes with 150 touchdowns and 63 picks in 91 career games with the Eagles (2016-20), Colts (2021) and Commanders since being selected by Philadelphia with the second overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Taylor Heinicke will be under center for the Commanders (2-4) on Sunday against the visiting Green Bay Packers (3-3).

Heinicke went 7-8 as Washington’s starter in 2021. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,419 yards and 20 touchdowns against 15 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) looks to pass against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders QB Carson Wentz (hand) out 4-6 weeks

Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks after fracturing the ring finger of his throwing hand in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears, NFL Network reported Monday.

Wentz will have surgery later Monday, multiple reports said.

Wentz could land on injured reserve, which would sideline him for a minimum of four games.

Wentz is currently in Los Angeles meeting with a hand specialist, per the report.

Taylor Heinicke is Washington’s primary backup. The Commanders also have rookie Sam Howell on the active roster.

Wentz sustained the injury late in the first half of Thursday’s win when his hand hit Bears defensive lineman Justin Jones on his follow-through. He remained in the game and played the entirety of the contest.

Wentz finished 12-of-22 passing for 99 yards. He has 1,489 yards passing on the season with 10 touchdowns against six interceptions.

Heinicke went 7-8 as Washington’s starter in 2021. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,419 yards and 20 TDs against 15 INTs.

The Commanders (2-4) host the Green Bay Packers (3-3) this Sunday. The reported timeline for Wentz would mean he’d miss return games against each of his former teams — the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8 and the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera greets quarterback Carson Wentz (11) before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera blows up at Carson Wentz question after win

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera delivered a profanity-laced answer to a question implying that it was owner Dan Snyder – not Rivera – who orchestrated the trade for Carson Wentz in the offseason.

The comments came after Washington’s 12-7 win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. Wentz threw for 99 yards without a touchdown or interception in the low-scoring win over the Bears.

An ESPN investigative report earlier in the day that centered on Snyder said the owner wanted Wentz as a way to mask the issues within his organization.

Rivera’s blow-up also came at the end of a week in which he felt compelled to apologize to Wentz about his own comment about why the Commanders were 1-4.

“Everyone keeps on saying I wanted nothing to do with Carson,” Rivera said Thursday, denying it with a profanity. “I’m the (expletive deleted) guy that pulled out the sheets of paper and looked at the analytics and watched the tape in freaking Indianapolis, OK? And that’s what pisses me off. The young man doesn’t deserve to have that all the time.”

A source told ESPN that the trade for Wentz was “100 percent a Dan move,” which also would be problematic given that Snyder made an agreement with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to hand over operational control of the team to his wife, Tanya.

Rivera has said all along that he brought the idea of the trade to ownership.

Earlier this week, Rivera apologized to Wentz after suggesting the quarterback was the reason the team wasn’t leading the NFC East this season.

“I actually talked to Carson this morning,” Rivera said Tuesday. “In fact, I talked to the whole team. I had a mea culpa moment and that I should know better. I created a little bit of a distraction, and that’s one thing that I try not to do, and it’s one thing that I’m very aware of.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) jogs off the field after the Commanders' game against the Tennessee Titans at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Commanders’ Carson Wentz nursing biceps strain

Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz is dealing with a biceps tendon strain near his right throwing shoulder, NFL Network reported Thursday.

Wentz was listed as a limited participant in practice on both Monday and Tuesday, however he does not carry an injury designation heading into the Commanders’ road game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.

Washington (1-4) appears content to play Wentz on Thursday and have him enjoy time off before the team returns to game action against the visiting Green Bay Packers on Oct. 23. Taylor Heinicke is the backup quarterback.

Wentz reportedly sustained the injury during a 21-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns before throwing an interception on the final play of the game.

He came under fire this week after Commanders head coach Ron Rivera labeled the quarterback position as the reason the franchise isn’t contending with the others in the NFC East this season.

Wentz, 29, has thrown for 1,390 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. He has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 150 touchdowns and 63 picks in 90 career games with the Eagles (2016-20), Indianapolis Colts (2021) and Commanders since being selected by Philadelphia with the second overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media