Colts officially lose Carson Wentz-Commanders trade after Matt Ryan benching

The Washington Commanders-Indianapolis Colts Week 8 matchup had all the makings of must-see television. Not only would Carson Wentz return to the franchise that traded him, but he’d face the quarterback, Matt Ryan, Indy appointed to replace him and the owner that scapegoated him for the Colts’ late-season collapse.

As it turns out, we wont see either quarterback take the field Sunday.

After the Colts’ dropped another rivalry game to the Titans, Frank Reich announced Sam Ehlinger will start against the Commanders. It was initially reported that Ryan was benched for the former Texas Longhorn, but NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport broke the news moments later than Ryan has a Grade 2 shoulder separation.

While Ryan’s injury might’ve prompted the change, Reich added that the intention is for Ehlinger to start at QB for the remainder of the season.

There’s a lot of moving parts and unknowns to this sudden change, but it all but confirms Indianapolis lost the Wentz trade with Washington.

Colts lose Carson Wentz-Commanders trade after benching Matt Ryan.

We don’t make the rules and the Commanders certainly haven’t won anything with Wentz currently on injured reserve following finger surgery, but the Colts come out as huge losers in the whole Wentz debacle. Irsay and Co. were so quick to run the quarterback out of town — and sing Ryan’s praises after acquiring the veteran from Atlanta — that they didn’t realize what they were losing: a better quarterback.

Those are just the facts. Not once in 2021 did the Colts even consider benching Wentz, who finished the season with 3,563 passing yards (third most of his career) and 27 touchdowns (tied for second-most in his career) to seven interceptions (tied for the second fewest of his career).

In just six games with the Colts, Ryan already has nine interceptions and has fumbled a whopping eleven times (three lost). Both stats lead all quarterbacks and Ryan only has 2,008 yards, nine touchdowns, a lousy 6.8 yards per pass attempt and a 3-3-1 record to show for it.

The Colts were planning to pull the plug on Ryan regardless of his injury and most Indy fans would tell you the move is long overdue.

Another indicator that Indianapolis lost the trade? The Commanders can move on from Wentz this offseason without any dead cap hit. Ryan, who turns 38 next year, has a crippling $35.2 million cap hit for 2023. If the Colts wanted to cut bait with Ryan, they’d have to swallow $18 million in dead money.

Again, Indy willingly jettisoned Wentz and acquired Ryan to replace him. Irsay is a friend to Commanders fans after his stance against Dan Snyder, but he likened Ryan’s leadership to that of legend Peyton Manning as recently as this weekend.

Leadership is a desired trait for QBs, but so is on-field performance. Maybe the Colts should’ve given the latter more consideration before they decided to trade Wentz and appoint Ryan as the franchise’s saving grace.