By Ron Johnson
Carson Wentz signs with the L.A. Rams
After a less than lackluster performance on Sunday in Green Bay, a dismal 20-3 drubbing by the Packers, the Rams came to the same realization that most of us did going into that game: Brett Rypien is NOT his Uncle Mark. This was just the continuation of several issues with a team still trying to find its identity two years after winning the Super Bowl. Now they have gone to the deepest parts of the QB Carousel and pulled out a name to lead hopefully help them snap their losing skid.
After losing his original starting job in Philly to eventual Super Bowl winner Nick Foles, little has been seen from Carson Wentz. Yes, he had stops in Indianapolis and Washington, but he hasn’t really had a chance to prove people wrong about how terrible he has been. Now he has a chance at redemption himself as he makes a stop through Hollywood to hopefully backup Matthew Stafford upon his return in two weeks.
Wentz’s last on-field action was in Week 17 of last season before Sam Howell took the reigns as the overall starter in Washington. One cannot say that Wentz has been a massive bust since being drafted after former Rams top pick Jared Goff in 2016. But then again, he really has not been the same Carson Wentz since going down with an ACL tear in Philly.
Wentz was one of those quarterbacks that was on the outside looking in during the offseason, and while the Rams rented Rypien as a potential third string option for Stafford and rookie Stetson Bennett, Rypien never really showed much to give the team much confidence going forward.
Despite his three-year stint and 2-1 record as a member of the Broncos, he was only able to complete under 50% of his passes last Sunday. Now that Rypien has been given his walking papers (He was waived prior to this release), and with Bennett now officially on the shelf for the year with non-football-related issues, the Rams are indeed trying to stop the bleeding before it gets worse for them.
Despite the fact that they are posting a 3-6 record and are 12th in the playoff picture, the Rams are not out of the woods yet. If anything, maybe adding Wentz to the lineup will be a signal of the winds of change for the Rams. Maybe Wentz will be that answer to the departure of Baker Mayfield in the offseason. At this point, the Rams just need something to actually go right for them as they are still trying to find their footing after a roller coaster-like season so far.
The Rams are hoping that their own three-headed dragon receiving corps will help them do the trick as the trio of Cooper Kupp, Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua will look to both Stafford and Wentz to bring their ‘A’ Games to the table following the bye week. That is the only true saving grace for this team right now is the fact that this is their bye week. It worked for them in the kicking game as Brett Maher got his walking papers after his dismal performance prior to the game against Dallas.
Or maybe it is just guys named Brett are just hazardous to the Rams’ future playoff hopes.
Either way, a part of me looks forward to seeing what Wentz will do as a member of the Rams. Yes, I am kind of bummed out about not seeing Stetson Bennett on the football field, and I’m pretty sure that when my Madden ‘24 updates again, I’ll see Wentz on my roster. But this can be looked at two different ways, and both have the painfully same result: Take the lesser of two evils or just make peace with seeing the harsh writing on the wall. When the smoke clears, will Aaron Donald believe that he made a mistake of returning rather than retiring.
I guess as a die-hard fan, I would like the same kind of luck that the Cubs seem to be getting lately. But then again, you don’t start at the top. You indeed have to work from the bottom, scratch and claw your way to the top and Sparta kick anyone that is keeping you from it….or give them an “RKO Outta Nowhere” just to show them that you’re serious about it.
Sean McVay has pulled miracles before, but can he truly look at Carson Wentz and think he’s getting anything other than a guy with more flat tires than Derek Carr? Just don’t have him take a knee, coach. He might not be able to get back up, or he might injure it again.
