From hero to zero and back to hero. That’s the only way to describe Carson Wentz’s debut for the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Commanders fans got the full Wentz experiment against the Jaguars. Might as well be dealt a rough landing strip for what is guaranteed to be a rollercoaster season, right? While the lows (two awful interceptions) that put Washington in a hole after it led 14-3 at halftime, were as low as can be, the highs were something this team hasn’t seen from the quarterback position in several seasons.
That’s the risk the Commanders were willing to take when they acquired Wentz from Indianapolis this offseason, and it paid off big time Sunday.
As is always the case, NFL and Commanders Twitter were alive and well during the game. While Twitter collectively praised Wentz’s near-perfect first half, it was just as quick to jump him for his back-to-back turnovers in the second half.
In fairness, we got on Wentz for the picks, too. Who wouldn’t? But we didn’t jump to conclusions given there was a lot of game left. One hater, analytics expert Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, wasn’t as reluctant to pull the trigger.
As he’s done the entire offseason, Commanders president Jason Wright quickly defended Wentz after Sharp clowned him on social media.
I agree. A man of mental fortitude, who after 2 4th quarter picks that conjured bad memories, dug deep, found his poise, pushed aside negative thoughts, and rallied us to victory. An overcomer, to be succinct. Exactly who we thought he was. #HTTC https://t.co/wSP2TMZIv4
— Jason Wright (@whoisjwright) September 11, 2022
Commanders president Jason Wright owns Carson Wentz Twitter troll
Love it or hate it, Wright isn’t backing down from anyone on Twitter.
During training camp, the team president eviscerated a Commanders reporter, Scott Abraham of local affiliate ABC7, who authored a confrontational and combative interview with Wentz. Abraham crossed an unwritten line and Wright led the charge of countless folks who took issue with the interview’s tone.
Wright also came to his players’ defense when Barstool Sports tried poking fun at Commanders players dancing during OTAs … when in actuality, they were representing Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the first internal fraternal organization founded on a historically lack college (HBCU) campus.
Our advice? Treat the Commanders franchise, players and all, with respect, get your facts right and Wright won’t come at you. It’s that simple.
First, this is from OTAs months ago. Second, for folks that complain about the No Fun League, it’s a strange flex. Third, this isn’t random dancing it’s representing Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a historically Black civic org est in 1911.
— Jason Wright (@whoisjwright) August 8, 2022
A link to learn:https://t.co/Ll6XsEQpA8 https://t.co/O23EKjk9c0
Again, you might not like the Commanders’ president engaging in Twitter horseplay, but at least he’s defending his players, right?
Not like we have another Jack Del Rio situation on our hands. It might not be in Wright’s job description to come to his players’ defense, but if he wants to be outspoken about defending the organization, who are we to stand in his way?
At the end of the day, Sharp didn’t give Wentz a chance to rewrite the scrip that’s followed him throughout his career, and Wright let him hear it.
There are bigger things to worry about. And if you really think about it, we’d much rather it be this way than the other way around. Wentz is somewhere he’s wanted. Nothing proved that more than Wright’s tweet and Ron Rivera’s electric postgame speech where he presented Wentz with the game ball.
dark. Next. Watch Ron Rivera rally locker room after Week 1 win