Los Angeles Rams Coach Sean McVay Reveals Reasons for Carson Wentz Signing
As the Los Angeles Rams return from their bye week, they'll do so with a new backup quarterback on the roster - veteran signal caller Carson Wentz.
The Rams signed Wentz, who's started 92 career games in seven seasons, last Tuesday, parting ways with Brett Rypien after an uninspiring start against the Green Bay Packers before the bye week.
But why?
Rams coach Sean McVay revealed the answer during his press conference Monday while adding that he feels good about starter Matthew Stafford's availability following a sprained UCL.
“I think it's really just a chance to upgrade the quarterback room," McVay said. "He's a guy that's played ... God forbid if something were to happen where (Stafford) wasn’t available, felt like this would offer an opportunity for somebody that's played a lot of high level football to get him in here, get him kind of familiar with some of the things that we're doing. That's what went into the decision.”
Wentz, drafted No. 2 overall in 2016, was the Philadelphia Eagles' starter for five seasons before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts, where he started for one year and was then traded once more, this time to the Washington Commanders.
An up-and-down season in Washington saw Wentz begin the year as the starter, lose the job to Taylor Heinicke and re-enter the mix near the end of the campaign, but his Commanders tenure came to a close during the ensuing spring.
The 30-year-old Wentz remained unsigned throughout the summer and first 10 weeks of the season, but he's now in Los Angeles - and McVay feels comfortable with his new insurance policy.
“I think just experiences," McVay said. "You learn through those experiences and he's a guy that had played a lot of football. He has been somebody that we had discussed. There were a lot of things that led into it, but the situations and some of the things that we had went through ultimately led us to feel like, alright, let's make that decision.”
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay appreciates the experience new backup quarterback Carson Wentz brings to the table.
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Wentz came to Los Angeles during the bye week and performed his physical before heading back home to spend time with his family. Still, he spent considerable time with Rams offensive coordinator Zac Robinson on Zoom, learning all the verbiage within the offense.
That work translated when Wentz practiced with the staff Monday, as the former North Dakota State star impressed McVay with his ability to digest so much information in such a short amount of time.
There's significant mutual respect between Stafford and Wentz, and the latter is off to a fast start serving as the former's right-hand man.
“He’s been a pro in every sense of the word," McVay said. "Even when he came in for his physical last week ... (I) was just so impressed with how he's approached this last week. Even just going through where he got a bunch of reps today in practice and the way that he handled it, the huddle command, the execution.
"He's been exposed to a lot of football but he was a pro in every sense and we're glad to have him in the building.”
The Rams, with Wentz expected to be watching from the sideline, will return to action Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Kickoff at SoFi Stadium is set for 1:25 p.m. PST.
