Former league MVP candidate, Carson Wentz, will kick off his seventh NFL season as a Washington Commander. Under center, Wentz will aim to end Washington’s struggle at the quarterback position and bring stability to the Commanders’ offense.
Carson Wentz Career Overview
Wentz was drafted second overall by the Eagles back in 2016 and went on to spend the first five years of his NFL career in Philidelphia. Despite suffering a torn ACL, Wentz helped to bring the franchise their first Super Bowl win in 2018. The same year, he recorded an MVP-caliber season, throwing for nearly 3,300 yards and 33 touchdowns. However, in the next few seasons, Wentz’s production, along with his approval from the Philly fan base, seemed to decline. After taking part in only 12 games throughout 2020, the Eagles shipped Wentz to Indianapolis.
Replacing a retired Phillip Rivers, Wentz was named starting QB for the Colts heading into 2021. The then 28-year-old led Indy into playoff contention but fell just short of the postseason after a shocking week-17 loss to the Jaguars. Away in Jacksonville, Wentz posted a sub-par 185 yards, one TD, and two turnovers. Statistically, Wentz was somewhat of an improvement for the Colts. However, his poor performance toward the season’s end did not go unnoticed. Earlier this off-season, the Indianapolis front office sent Wentz on the move again, this time to Washington.
Since Kirk Cousins’s departure in 2018, the Commanders have started a whopping ten different players at the quarterback position. Desperate for answers, the franchise will now look to Wentz for a potential solution. Here’s why number 11 may find some success in Washington.
Expectations
Wentz will now throw to a promising receiving corps headlined by Washington’s star wideout, Terry McLaurin. In his three years as a Commander, McLaurin has already hauled in over 3,000 receiving yards and 16 TDs. Given Washington’s constant changes at the QB position, McLaurin can seemingly succeed with any signal-caller. However, expect Wentz’s arm strength to fit exceptionally well with Mclaurin’s ability to catch contested passes.
In this year’s NFL draft, the Commanders have added another young receiver, Jahan Dotson. Washington selected Dotson in the first round, and he’s already making a significant impact in the eyes of his quarterback. During the squad’s offseason activities, Wentz praised Dotson’s skill, saying he “catches the football as natural as anybody I’ve been around”. In his four years as a Penn State Nittany Lion, Dotson recorded 2,700 receiving yards and 16 TDs, where almost half of his career statistics were accomplished in his final season. In addition to Dotson and McLaurin, Washington has high expectations for their rising sixth-year receiver, Curtis Samuel. Due to a lingering groin injury, Samuel was limited to only five games in 2021. Nonetheless, Commanders fans should expect a strong return for Samuel at some point this upcoming season.
In 2021, the Commanders’ offensive line ranked among the best in the NFL. With the contract extension of left guard Charles Leno Jr. and the addition of former Jacksonville Jaguar, Andrew Norwell, expect Washington’s O-line to continue their good play heading into 2022.
After ranking 21st in scoring offense last season, It seems the Commander’s offense is finally heading in the right direction and ready for significant improvement. With a respectable receiving core and solid O-line, Carson Wentz indeed has the tools to succeed in Washington.