If Carson Wentz was hoping to go into next NFL season knowing that he’s the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, that ship has apparently sailed.
Earlier in the week, Colts head coach Frank Reich was asked if he would commit to naming Wentz, who had just played poorly in the team’s season-ending loss to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, as his starting quarterback for next season. The coach’s answer was diplomatic but clearly, he was unwilling to commit to saying yes.
“We loved the team we had this year, we knew everyone we brought in this year, we expected to play winning football,” Reich said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “Next year’s roster will be next year’s roster. I don’t want to open it up about one player and then start talking about all of them.”
People took notice, especially because, after the previous season, Reich was adamant about wanting Philip Rivers to return before he retired. The Colts then traded for Wentz in a deal that proved very costly for them in terms of draft picks.
On Thursday, Colts GM Chris Ballard spoke with reporters for his season-ending press conference and, when asked about whether or not Wentz was the starter next year, he was much more direct in his answer.
Ballard on Carson Wentz: "At the time (of the trade), we felt it was the right decision. I’m not going to make a comment on who is going to be here next year and who isn't … I thought Carson did some good things, and I thought there are some things he needs to do a lot better."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 13, 2022
“At the time (of the trade), we felt it was the right decision. I’m not going to make a comment on who is going to be here next year and who isn’t … I thought Carson did some good things, and I thought there are some things he needs to do a lot better.”
That is…not an endorsement, to say the least. And Ballard definitely appears to be frustrated with Wentz’s play overall.
Something Chris Ballard said to Carson Wentz in their season-ending meeting yesterday: "Make the layups. Just make the layups."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 13, 2022
I think this is pretty revealing, from Ballard, after Wentz's struggles in Weeks 17 and 18: "We’ve got a lot of good players and a lot of good pieces. You’ve got to have stability at the QB position, and he has to play up to his potential."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 13, 2022
And in case you’re wondering how Ballard felt about the loss to the Jaguars, which knocked the Colts out of the playoffs, he did not mince words.
"We embarrassed ourselves. Embarrassed our owner. Embarrassed our city." — Colts GM Chris Ballard
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 13, 2022
"We won't accept it … I won't sit up here and make excuses about why we got our ass beat in Jacksonville. Because that's what happened."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 13, 2022
As you can imagine, Ballard’s intense thoughts on Wentz and the end of the Colts season caused a lot of reactions on social media.
I mean he kinda just did 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/Q3MXMH4Kjl
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 13, 2022
That’s tough! https://t.co/Z1Mq0f8Yjf
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) January 13, 2022
Howie Roseman bamboozles another one. https://t.co/gbRA8IENim
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) January 13, 2022
Sounds like he actually did tho https://t.co/Wxw6gUF6iR
— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 13, 2022
Very much a "Jared Goff is a Ram at this moment" vibe. https://t.co/MdvdV3qOzJ
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) January 13, 2022
While it certainly won’t have the same impact, it sure sounds like we may one-day talk about the Eagles’ Carson Wentz trade in the same way we discuss the Cowboys’ Herschel Walker trade.
