Carson Wentz was one of the biggest errors during Ron Rivera's turbulent four years as Washington Commanders head coach. But three years removed from his unceremonious release, he's found a way to stick around in the league.
The Commanders thought Wentz could finally solve Rivera's complex riddle at football's most integral position. They gave up a decent amount to acquire the signal-caller via trade from the Indianapolis Colts, betting that he could somehow regain the form that saw him emerge as an NFL MVP candidate with the Philadelphia Eagles before injury struck.
Not for the first time, Rivera was sorely mistaken. Wentz struggled to be consistent or stay healthy. Fortunately for the Commanders, he had an out on his deal, which they took without hesitation.
Carson Wentz has found stability three years after abrupt Commanders release
An uncertain future awaited Wentz. But now, he's getting the chance to stick around on the same team he played for last season, which is the first time since the 2020 offseason he's had that luxury.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Minnesota Vikings have re-signed Wentz to a one-year deal. He played relatively well under head coach Kevin O'Connell in 2025 before his campaign was cruelly cut short. He now gets another go-around with the NFC North club when all hope was fading.
Wentz is also entering a completely different dynamic than the one he experienced with the Vikings last year.
Minnesota signed former No. 1 pick Kyler Murray when his release from the Arizona Cardinals was confirmed. They still have J.J. McCarthy, but rumors are swirling about his future. Wentz will be the third option in all likelihood. Still, the veteran might fancy his chances of unseating the 2024 first-round selection as the team's primary backup.
That sounds ambitious, of course. But if the Vikings truly believed in McCarthy, they wouldn't have brought Murray into the building.
Either way, Wentz will be thankful he has a job heading into the summer. O'Connell was complimentary of the player last year, and he wants to see if his experience can rub off positively on McCarthy and Murray. Looking at the injury history suffered by the projected top two on the depth chart, the North Dakota State product's place on the 53-man roster seems assured barring a drastic drop-off in performance levels.
It speaks to Wentz's perseverance and adaptability that he is still getting opportunities after his disastrous stint in Washington. His time with the Commanders was an unmitigated disaster, but he seems to have found a home up north.
Good for him.