Carson Wentz not only led the Los Angeles Rams to a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but he may have earned himself a spot on their roster in 2024. With Matthew Stafford constantly battling injuries and Stetson Bennett’s future in Los Angeles up in the air still, Wentz would be a perfect backup quarterback for the Rams next year.
It’s a position Los Angeles has been unable to figure out for years and this season, it cost them a potential win over the Packers in Week 9. That ultimately didn’t come back to bite them, but the decision to go with Brett Rypien in that game with Stafford out proved to be a poor one.
Wentz looked much more capable of running Sean McVay’s offense on Sunday than most backup quarterbacks have in several years. And when it comes to traits McVay looks for in a quarterback, Wentz has the mobility and the quick trigger as a passer that fit the mold of many Rams backups in the past.
Against the 49ers on Sunday, Wentz completed 17 of 24 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. His one interception was a pass that went right through the hands of Tutu Atwell. Pro Football Focus credited Wentz with making three big-time throws, which are passes with “excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window,” and he didn’t have a single turnover-worthy play.
It was by no means a phenomenal performance throwing the ball, but his touchdown pass to Puka Nacua was a dime, as was a tight-window throw to Davis Allen for 10 yards on fourth-and-2.
Here’s that touchdown pass to Nacua from 19 yards out.
The catch. The pass 🤌
📺 @NFLonFOX | @ASAPpuka 🤝 @cj_wentz pic.twitter.com/Y9XnZLHWD9
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 7, 2024
And the 10-yard seed to Allen over the middle.
His mobility was on full display, too. He rushed 16 times for 57 yards (excluding a kneel down), which are the most carries by a Rams quarterback since 1950. Wentz moved the chains three times on third down by picking up the first down with his legs, and he also had a 12-yard touchdown run on a designed QB draw.
That’s not a play you can run with many quarterbacks but Wentz has the size and speed to make it work.
Carson takes it himself! Touchdown!
📺 @NFLonFOX | @cj_wentz pic.twitter.com/rP6vWLMbIf
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 7, 2024
It was an all-around solid performance by Wentz in his first game since the 2022 season. He’s probably not starter material anymore but for a team like the Rams with a quarterback that’s injured often, Wentz makes a ton of sense as Stafford’s backup in 2024.
The Rams need someone who can keep the ship afloat if Stafford were to miss a few weeks, which Rypien was unable to do this year. John Wolford and Bryce Perkins also struggled as the Rams’ backups over the last few seasons.
Assuming Wentz isn’t seeking a lucrative contract in free agency this offseason, the Rams should bring him back as Stafford’s backup.
