Tag: Carson Wentz

Former Jaguars QB Nick Foles retiring from NFL

Former Jaguars QB Nick Foles retiring from NFL

Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday, ending his pro football career after 11 years.

One of those seasons was spent in Jacksonville after the MVP of Super Bowl LII signed a contract including what was then the largest amount of guaranteed money paid to one player in franchise history.

Foles intends to rejoin the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he shockingly led to a championship, before officially filing his retirement in September.

The Jaguars handed Foles a four-year, $88 million contract, including $50.1 million guaranteed in 2019, hoping he could lead the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory as he had done for Philadelphia two seasons prior.

But a collarbone injury suffered on his second drive with Jacksonville, during its Week 1 matchup with Kansas City, threw a haymaker into the team’s plans.

Foles went five-of-eight passing for 75 yards before going down with the injury on a touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Chark.

He reassumed the role of starter in Week 11, but on a short leash following the emergence of rookie sensation Gardner Minshew, who threw for 2,285 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in Foles’ near-nine-game absence.

Having committed four turnovers in three games after returning, including three in his third, Foles was benched in favor of Minshew in Week 13 and never threw another pass for Jacksonville.

Foles finished his brief Jaguars stint with a 65.8% completion rate, 736 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Jacksonville traded Foles to Chicago the following March for a 2020 fourth-round NFL draft pick, resulting in an $18.75 million dead salary cap hit for that year.

A 2012 third-round pick by Philadelphia out of Arizona, Foles first rose to prominence with the Eagles by taking over as starter in each of his first two seasons because of injuries to Michael Vick.

Foles peaked as a regular-season passer in 2013, when he tossed 27 touchdown passes compared to two interceptions in 13 games, including 10 starts. He tied the NFL record with seven touchdown passes in a 49-20 win over the Oakland Raiders. His 2,891 passing yards that year are his career high.

But Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly traded Foles to St. Louis after his 2014 season ended on injured reserve, beginning his long game of musical chairs around the NFL.

Foles started 11 games for the Rams in 2015 but was benched twice for poor performance. After the Rams drafted Jared Goff first overall in 2016, Foles asked for his release. He went on to spend that season as a backup with Kansas City.

Foles rejoined the Eagles in 2017 as former first-round pick Carson Wentz’s backup under head coach Doug Pederson.

A Week 14 knee injury to Wentz promoted Foles to the starting role for the Eagles, who had the best record in the NFC at the time. He went 5-1 as the starter in that stretch, throwing for 1,508 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions and hauling in the legendary “Philly Special” touchdown pass against New England in the Super Bowl.

Foles started for the Eagles to begin the 2018 season until Wentz was cleared to play in Week 3. Foles did not attempt another pass until Week 15, when Wentz was sidelined with a year-ending back injury.

He guided the Eagles on a three-game winning streak to end the campaign, with Philadelphia advancing to the NFC divisional round before a 20-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Including the postseason, Foles passed for 1,880 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2018.

Foles declined a $20 million option from Philadelphia the following offseason, leading him to hit free agency and sign his megadeal with the Jaguars.

After his time in Jacksonville, Foles spent two seasons with Chicago and one with the Jaguars’ AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts. He appeared in 13 games, including one against the Jaguars with the Bears, and made 10 starts in that stretch.

Over 11 seasons with six teams, Foles completed 62.4% of his passes (1,302 of 2,087) for 14,227 yards with 82 touchdowns and 47 interceptions. He also rushed 151 times for 407 yards and six scores.

Sep 18, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Nick Foles and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson interact after the game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs newcomer eager to make impact during the preseason

On Friday, Carson Wentz told reporters about his mindset heading into the Chiefs’ three-game preseason schedule. | @EdEastonJr

The preseason schedule typically allows teams to fine-tune their playbooks ahead of the regular season and give lesser-known players a chance to earn their spot on an NFL roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be playing their starters sparingly in their three-game exhibition schedule, opening the door for players on the bubble and backups to showcase their talents in front of an audience.

Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz spoke with reporters on Friday after practice to discuss how excited he is to get playing time ahead of his first season in Kansas City.

“I’ve done this for a while. I’ll play as much or as little as the coach asks us,” said Wentz. “I’m in a different situation than I’ve been in the past, so I’m excited for whatever opportunity comes my way, and I’ll be ready.”

Wentz reflected on his time spent as a backup with the Los Angeles Rams last season when he appeared in two games after being signed on November 8.

He won his lone start at the end of the year, finishing 17 of 24 with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score.

“I think that tail in the last year getting that one game experience in the new system, all those things last year, although it was the last game of the year, and it was some of the backups and all that stuff,” said Wentz. “I still think that was really valuable and important for me, especially being out for half the year and all that, so right now, I’ll be ready.”

Wentz’s experience and ability to play well without consistent time on the field was another factor in his signing, as the Chiefs need a veteran who can step in and get the job done immediately if necessary.

New Chiefs QB shares thoughts on working with Andy Reid

Carson Wentz gave reporters first impressions of Andy Reid during comments to the media at #Chiefs training camp on Friday. | @EdEastonJr

The health of Patrick Mahomes continues to be the essential factor in the Kansas City Chiefs’ success as they look ahead to the 2024 season and their opportunity to win a third straight Super Bowl title.

On Friday, Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz opened up to the media about his experience under head coach Andy Reid in training camp, and some of the similarities between Kansas City’s system and the one he mastered as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I mean, it (has) a lot of similarities to my time in Philly (Eagles), but it’s evolved quite a bit,” Wentz explained. “The speed of this offense is second to none and is faster than any team I’ve been a part of. I think just the way we utilize crossers and things and really do a lot of things that Pat (Patrick Mahomes) excels at and how they come to life out here. It’s fun to be a part of it, be in X’s and O’s meetings, and just the whys behind things. I’m trying to learn as much as I can and be a part of it, but it’s pretty cool how they do things.”

Wentz was an MVP candidate in 2017 before suffering a season-ending ACL injury during the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII season. He played under then-head coach Doug Pederson, whom Reid mentored during their time together as player and coach.

“It’s been a lot of fun, a lot of fun, very creative. You see that from afar when you’re watching film and all that stuff to see kind of the gadget plays and all that stuff,” said Wentz. “Not only the gadget plays, but the creativity within your normal run-of-the-mill pass concepts and how they take it to the next level and utilize guys in the right positions and all those things. And so it’s camp, we’re running a lot of plays, but as we kind of start to focus in a little bit, kind of start to see the creativity within the plays, and it’s been fun kind of seeing and seeing how they see it and working with them.”

Judging from his comments on Friday, Wentz is comfortable in the system and will be able to serve as an ideal backup if Mahomes is unavailable at any point during the Chiefs’ 2024 season.

Titans QB Will Levis compared to Carson Wentz?

It’s not in the way you think.

What kind of season can Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis have in 2024?

One NFL analyst named five hypothetical scenarios that could turn the 2024 season on its head. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder says Levis having a Carson Wentz-like second season could be one of those scenarios.

Before you read that and panic, remember that Carson Wentz looked like he was on the verge of superstardom in 2017.

Wentz was on the verge of being named the NFL MVP in 2017 before injuring his knee in a Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams. His career has never been the same since.

Before the injury, Wentz completed 60% of his passes for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 299 yards. He would later sign an extension with the Eagles, who traded him to the Indianapolis Colts after the 2020 season. The Colts couldn’t wait to get rid of Wentz after one season, and, foolishly, then-Washington head coach Ron Rivera traded valuable picks for Wentz.

He started just seven games for the Commanders, who cut him after one season. He spent part of last season with the Rams as a backup and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason to serve as Patrick Mahomes’ backup.

So, why did Holder make this comparison? Here are his thoughts:

Not much is expected of the Tennessee Titans this season as DraftKings Sportsbook has the line for the team’s win total set at 6.5 and its odds of winning the AFC South at +1000, the worst in the division.

A big reason for that is the uncertainty surrounding Titans quarterback Will Levis.

The 25-year-old showed a few moments of brilliance as a rookie but was inconsistent, tossing just eight touchdowns in nine games and averaging a little more than 200 yards per outing. That’s similar to Carson Wentz’s debut campaign in 2016, which was up and down as he had 16 touchdowns in 16 games and 236.4 yards per outing.

However, the Philadelphia Eagles QB exploded in year two and likely would have been the NFL MVP had he not suffered a devastating injury in the final month of the season. As it was, he finished third in the voting and earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.

There’s reason to believe Levis could be on the same trajectory as both quarterbacks have similar skill sets with big arms and decent athleticism. Also, the Titans have a good receiving corps this year with DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to go along with a Bill Callahan-coached offensive line to support the young quarterback.

Mix that in with a defense that features Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry III in the trenches along with L’Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie and Roger McCreary at cornerback, and Tennessee could be a sneaky contender in the AFC South with good quarterback play.

When you look at Levis, you can see why someone could make this comparison. He and Wentz are of similar size, with similar arm strength. While Levis is a better athlete, Wentz was a much better athlete in 2017 than most realize.

It’s safe to say the Titans would be elated if Levis has a similar season as Wentz did in 2017. It would be up to Levis, head coach Brian Callahan and others to ensure that the quarterback’s career didn’t fall off like Wentz’s did.

LOOK: Chiefs newcomer scores impressive touchdown at training camp

Check out this video of #Chiefs QB Carson Wentz hitting WR Cornell Powell for a touchdown during Kansas City’s practice session on Friday.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed quarterback Carson Wentz during the 2024 offseason to fill the second-string spot on their depth chart behind reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.

Though the team will hope that Wentz isn’t forced into action during the regular season, the former first-round pick has put together impressive performances during training camp and seems to be in great form ahead of the Chiefs’ first exhibition game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

During workouts on Friday, Wentz hit receiver Cornell Powell with a perfectly placed pass in the back of the endzone that scored a touchdown against Kansas City’s defense:

If Wentz can translate his practice performances into exceptional showings in the preseason, Chiefs fans might start to feel more at ease with the veteran backup ahead of the team’s Super Bowl defense campaign.

Expect to see Wentz fight for the right to be Mahomes’ backup throughout Kansas City’s three-game preseason schedule.

WATCH: Carson Wentz shows off funky hip stretch at Chiefs training camp

#Chiefs QB Carson Wentz was seen stretching his hips in a unique way ahead of Kansas City’s training camp practice on Thursday.

Professional athletes are constantly under the microscope of their fans, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz is no exception.

While warming up for a practice session on Thursday at Chiefs training camp, Wentz was preparing for drills with a unique stretching routine that may soon catch on with other signal-callers on Kansas City’s roster.

In a video that was posted to Twitter by KC Sports Network, Wentz could be seen near the sideline of a practice field at Missouri Western State University, gyrating his hips and torso in an exercise that looked more like a dance than a workout:

Though Wentz isn’t the only quarterback in the NFL who does quirky aerobics to get his body ready for action, this particular exercise seems destined to become a fan favorite in Chiefs Kingdom due to its comedic appeal.

Stay tuned to Kansas City’s remaining training camp practices and preseason games to see if the unusual stretch is caught on camera again.

Carson Wentz avoided an injury walking to Chiefs camp and Patrick Mahomes wouldn’t let him hear the end of it

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”

Carson Wentz has had some rough injury luck during his NFL career, and he never regained his MVP-caliber form after a 2017 ACL tear with the Eagles. But nothing would have topped getting injured while walking *to* training camp.

That’s nearly what happened on Sunday. But Wentz can be thankful that he has a great teammate like Patrick Mahomes who will, uh, ruthlessly make fun of him.

Wentz — who signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs this offseason — was walking to camp with his fellow quarterback group. There appeared to be a change in materials of the turf walkway to practice, and Wentz got that turf transition at the worst spot. His knee almost buckled, and the entire quarterback group couldn’t believe Wentz almost got taken out before training camp really even started.

Mahomes shouted once he realized that Wentz was fine:

“Are you kidding me?!”

He then told the social team to post the video, which they did.

Wentz has to watch his step for now on. That could have been so bad.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1371]

Chiefs QB Chris Oladokun entering training camp: ‘I feel a lot more comfortable’

Kansas City #Chiefs QB Chris Oladokun entering training camp: ‘I feel a lot more comfortable’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ depth at quarterback is rarely questioned, given Patrick Mahomes’s meteoric success. The work done in that room has helped the team secure three Super Bowl titles in five years.

Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun has played many roles in the quarterback room and is ready to take the next step. Entering his third season, he spoke with reporters on Friday about his improvement and motivation.

“I went in this off-season and worked with Pat (Patrick Mahomes) and Jeff Christensen a lot; I did a lot just from mechanically with my feet, even the way I was gripping the ball; they made a lot of changes that way,” said Oladokun. “So I feel a lot more comfortable.”

Oladokun spent last season on the practice squad, often serving as the scout team quarterback, simulating the opponent for the defense.

“I’m always going to come out here and compete, no matter who’s in the room. Every day, I’m trying to beat Pat (Patrick Mahomes), Carson (Wentz), and Ian (Book); that’s my job,” said Oladokun. “I’m here to earn my keep. I’m going into year three. In the last two years, I’ve been on the practice squad. There’s a lot of intensity in terms of my work, how I go about things, and making sure I put my best foot forward.”

The signing of veteran Carson Wentz as Mahomes’ assumed backup will require Oladokun to have an exceptional training camp and preseason.

Commanders tight end Zach Ertz impressed with Jayden Daniels

Zach Ertz is the latest veteran with positive impressions of Jayden Daniels.

Washington tight end Zach Ertz has seen a lot throughout his 11 NFL seasons. Ertz played for the Philadelphia Eagles for the first 8.5 seasons of his career before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021.

During his time in Philadelphia, Ertz worked with young quarterbacks such as Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts before playing with Kyler Murray in Arizona. That experience is one of the many reasons new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn wanted Ertz in Washington. Oh, that and Ertz can still play.

With the Commanders, Ertz has the chance to help another young quarterback: Jayden Daniels. While they’ve only been together for a short time, Ertz is already impressed with the Heisman Trophy winner.

“He really, really cares about this thing,” Ertz said per commanders.com. “He wants to be as good as he can possibly be. He’s working his butt off.

This echoes the comments defensive tackle and team captain Jonathan Allen made about Daniels last week. Allen noted that he’s always early to the team facility, and Daniels is there before him.

It’s easy for veterans to say good things about rookies. However, what we’ve heard about Daniels lines up with what others said about him ahead of the draft. He will not be outworked. And when you possess the kind of talent that Daniels does have, that bodes well for the Commanders in 2024 and beyond.

 

WATCH: Carson Wentz takes the field at OTAs donning No. 11 jersey

Carson Wentz was spotted wearing his No. 11 jersey during workouts at #Chiefs OTAs on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs have had some outstanding players wearing the No. 11 jersey over the years.

Most notably, quarterback Alex Smith wore No. 11 for Kansas City from 2013 through 2017, helping to lift the Chiefs back to relevance in Andy Reid’s first years as the team’s head coach.

When Smith left Western Missouri to start his tenure with the Washington Football Team in 2018, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson took over the number before Marquez Valdes-Scantling arrived in Kansas City in 2022.

Now, backup quarterback Carson Wentz is donning the No. 11 jersey with pride and was spotted wearing his Chiefs uniform for the first time at Kansas City’s organized team activities on Wednesday.

While Wentz isn’t likely to see consistent action for the Chiefs in the 2024 regular season, the legacy of the number will live on with him in the preseason and on the sideline as he seeks to become Kansas City’s next great second-stringer.