3 storylines to watch in Commanders preseason opener vs Panthers

1. Carson Wentz’s Performance

The spotlight has followed Wentz throughout his career, but it’s been magnified ever since his final season with the Eagles in 2020. Now on his third team in as many seasons, the general consensus is this campaign is Wentz’s final chance to prove himself as a franchise quarterback. While he could get a job elsewhere, it’s fair to say teams won’t regard him as a clearcut starter if things go poorly in Washington.

It’s been an up and down start for Wentz in training camp. His lows have been extremely worrisome (he tossed three interceptions in one practice), but he has since rebounded with a strong week leading up to Saturday.

According to Ron Rivera, Wentz and the starters will play between 15-20 snaps. Not a huge sample size, but enough to evaluate the basics; accuracy, comfortability within the offense and chemistry with receivers chief among them.

We won’t overreact if Wentz looks wonky, but the same can’t be said for reactionary fans and the media, which is seemingly begging for a reason to slander him. The 29-year-old could really use a strong debut for the Burgundy and Gold.