Tag: Carson Wentz

Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA;Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Vikings agree to terms with Carson Wentz, adding depth to QB room

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Minnesota Vikings on Thursday agreed to terms with quarterback Carson Wentz on a one-year contract, keeping him for the second season in a row.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Vikings’ quarterback room consists of three former top-10 draft picks in Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy and Wentz.

Murray, who was signed to a one-year deal on March 12, was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. McCarthy was chosen by Minnesota with the 10th pick in 2024 out of Michigan, and Wentz was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick in 2016 out of North Dakota State.

Wentz, 33, completed 65.1% of his passes for 1,216 yards and six touchdowns, with five interceptions, in five games (all starts) for the Vikings in 2025 before being placed on injured reserve due to a season-ending left shoulder injury.

He has thrown for 23,626 yards, 159 touchdowns and 72 interceptions in 103 career games (99 starts) with the Eagles (2016-20), Indianapolis Colts (2021), Washington Commanders (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2023), Kansas City Chiefs (2024) and Vikings.

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA;Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Vikings QB Carson Wentz (shoulder) placed on IR

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz has been placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury, the team announced Monday.

Wentz, who replaced J.J. McCarthy after he sustained a high-ankle sprain in Week 2, started the last five games for Minnesota. He appeared to be in obvious pain during Thursday’s 37-10 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers, getting sacked five times and hit eight times in the loss.

Late in the game, Wentz was shown on the sideline, visibly frustrated, throwing his helmet to the turf.

Wentz is set to have season-ending surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder, according to multiple media reports.

The 32-year-old, who was the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is on his sixth team in the last six seasons. After spending his first five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Wentz has been a mercenary of sorts since, starting 31 games over the last five seasons for the Indianapolis Colts (2021), Washington Commanders (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2023), Kansas City Chiefs (2024) and Vikings.

After signing with Minnesota Aug. 24, he went 2-3 with 1,216 passing yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Over 10 NFL seasons, Wentz has started 99 games and thrown for 23,626 yards, 159 touchdowns and 72 interceptions.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell talked last week about this week’s game against the Detroit Lions (5-2) for McCarthy. Minnesota (3-4) now needs McCarthy available, or it will be forced to start rookie Max Brosmer on Sunday in hostile territory.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) walks off the field after their win against the Cleveland Browns in an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Vikings QB Carson Wentz named Week 7 starter, returns to Philly as opponent

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Carson Wentz will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, coach Kevin O’Connell said, setting up a reunion between Wentz and the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2016.

Wentz, who began the season as a backup, will make his fourth straight start while J.J. McCarthy continues to recover from an ankle injury suffered in Week 2. Rookie Max Brosmer will serve as the backup against the Eagles, with McCarthy designated as the emergency third quarterback.

“I thought [Carson] had a good week of practice, as well as J.J.,” O’Connell told reporters on Friday. “I was really proud of the work [J.J.] put in, as he kind of continues to push through the later stages of this rehab. Feel good about him being available but he will be the emergency third quarterback. We went into the last game with two (QBs) and didn’t quite feel like that was the smartest thing to do – and feel good about where he’d be at if he had to play in that third quarterback capacity. So Max [Brosmer] will back up Carson Wentz.”

The 32-year-old Wentz has gone 2-1 since taking over as the Vikings starter, completing 69% of his passes for 759 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sunday’s matchup will mark Wentz’s first start in Philadelphia since his departure following the 2020 season, when the Eagles traded him to Indianapolis. He did play against the visiting Eagles in 2022 when he was a member of the Washington Commanders. Wentz completed 25 of 43 passes for 211 yards during a 24-8 loss.

Wentz also had brief stints with the Colts, Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs before signing with Minnesota in the offseason.

The Vikings are coming off their bye week after opening the season 3-2. The Eagles (4-2), meanwhile, look to avoid a third consecutive loss after starting the season 4-0.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) looks to pass the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter of an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Vikings’ Carson Wentz ailing, J.J. McCarthy set to practice next week

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One day after Carson Wentz led the Minnesota Vikings to a comeback victory in London, coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Monday that the veteran quarterback is being evaluated for a sore left shoulder.

Meanwhile, injured quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected to resume practicing following the team’s Week 6 bye, O’Connell said.

Whether the 22-year-old McCarthy is ready to take back the reins against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 remains to be seen after he suffered a high ankle sprain in a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

O’Connell was non-committal regarding Minnesota’s No. 1 quarterback role after Sunday’s win.

“I’m just excited we got the win today, and we’re going to move forward in this bye and get as healthy as we can at all positions, and attack this thing for the next few games,” O’Connell said.

At the time of the injury, McCarthy was given a recovery timeline of 2-4 weeks, which would put him in line to face the Eagles if healthy.

In two games this season, McCarthy has completed 58.5 percent of his passes (24 of 41) for 301 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick (No. 10 overall) missed last season after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee during his first preseason game.

On Sunday, Wentz threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds left in regulation, lifting the Vikings to a 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. The veteran QB completed 25 of 34 passes for 236 yards and is 2-1 with a 69 percent completion rate (69 of 100), five TD passes and two interceptions since replacing McCarthy.

Wentz, 32, seized the Eagles’ starting job straight out of North Dakota State in 2016 as the No. 2 overall pick. He spent five seasons as the Eagles’ starter before moving on to Indianapolis (2021), Washington (2022), the Los Angeles Rams (2023) and the Chiefs (2024).

He owns a 49-47-1 record in his 97 career starts with a 62.9 percent completion rate, 23,169 passing yards, 158 touchdowns, 69 interceptions and an 89.6 passer efficiency rating.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Desmond Ridder (4) walks for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Preseason Week 3 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. The Colts won 41-14.

Report: Vikings sign QB Desmond Ridder with JJ McCarthy ailing

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Minnesota Vikings are adding depth to the quarterback position by signing veteran free agent Desmond Ridder to the 53-man roster, the NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

Starter J.J. McCarthy is week-to-week with a high ankle sprain, with veteran Carson Wentz is set to start and rookie Max Brosmer his backup before Ridder’s arrival.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed Ridder, 26, in July and released him on Aug. 26.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of the University of Cincinnati.

Ridder went 2-2 as a starter as a rookie, then 6-7 in his second season in Atlanta. He lost his only start while making six appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

His career totals are 374-of-588 passing (63.6 percent) for 4,002 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 25 games (18 starts). He also rushed for five touchdowns with the Falcons in 2023.

The Vikings on Sunday host the Bengals, who lost starting quarterback Joe Burrow (turf toe) last Sunday against Jacksonville.

Cincinnati bolstered the depth behind new starter Jake Browning by elevating Brett Rypien from the practice squad and signing Sean Clifford and Mike White to the practice squad on Tuesday.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) and linebacker Devin Bush (30) rush Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Chiefs’ Andy Reid: Patrick Mahomes likely to start vs. Texans

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes “most likely” will start Saturday’s game against the visiting Houston Texans, coach Andy Reid said on Thursday.

Mahomes was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday despite nursing an ankle sprain he suffered during the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 21-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

“We’ll most likely end up playing him,” Reid said on Thursday.

Reid added that he liked what he saw from Mahomes during practice.

“He did look good out there,” Reid said. “He moved around pretty good. So, you’re always looking to make sure they can get out the way, not to further any harm to them. So that’s what I look at.

“I’ve been through it with him before and he amazed me every time he does it. The guy, he’s been so mentally tough and just puts it into a mindset that he has going into it (from) where he was a few days ago.”

Mahomes and the Chiefs (13-1) can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Texans (9-5) and a loss or tie by the Buffalo Bills (11-3) against the visiting New England Patriots (3-11).

Carson Wentz is the No. 2 quarterback for the Chiefs and would get his 94th career start if Mahomes sits. Wentz played the final two possessions last week.

–Field Level Media

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

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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

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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

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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

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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