The Washington Commanders officially announced the release of Carson Wentz on Monday. The move doesn’t come as a surprise considering that Wentz, who played one season in D.C., was a likely cap casualty. The team will save $26.17 million against their salary cap because of the move, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Releasing Carson Wentz saves the Commanders $26.17 million against their salary cap.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2023
The embattled quarterback played in eight games with the Commanders this past season. He threw for just 1,755 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He completed 62.3% of his passes as well. Through Wentz’s seven starts, the Commanders fared 2-5. In the other 10 games, which Wentz missed due to an injured finger, Washington went 6-3-1.
In what was Wentz’s last hurrah in Washington, he was unable to help the Commanders clinch a playoff spot. As a parting gift, the Commanders lost to the Browns 24-10 in Week 17. Wentz threw three interceptions in a losing effort. Led by Sam Howell, the Commanders went on to beat the Dallas Cowboys in their regular-season finale. But their fate had already been decided by Wentz.
The NFL world reacted to the news, with those largely blasting Wentz and the Commanders on Twitter.
“Remember when Washington started Carson Wentz in a must-win game after he’d missed two months with injury even though the team had a winning record without him and he threw 3 interceptions and they lost and he never played for them again,” said Rodger Sherman of The Ringer.
Remember when Washington started Carson Wentz in a must-win game after he'd missed two months with injury even though the team had a winning record without him and he threw 3 interceptions and they lost and he never played for them again
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) February 27, 2023
“Who else is old enough to [remember] like 8 months ago when a reporter asked Carson Wentz if this year was his last shot, and then the team president threw a fit and acted like the reporter had killed Wentz’s dog,” said writer Alex Kirshner.
Who else is old enough to rememberer like 8 months ago when a reporter asked Carson Wentz if this year was his last shot, and then the team president threw a fit and acted like the reporter had killed Wentz’s dog https://t.co/1ZObJdVv45
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) February 27, 2023
“It’s literally amazing what’s happened to him between 2016 and now,” ESPN NFL reporter Stepehn Holder said of Wentz. “Like, legit fascinating — in a perverse sense of the word.”
It’s literally amazing what’s happened to him between 2016 and now. Like, legit fascinating — in a perverse sense of the word.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) February 27, 2023
“Carson Wentz signed a 4-year, $128 million extension with the Eagles in 2019. Its base value, over 6 years, folding two years of his rookie deal in, was about $154 million,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “Today, the Commanders terminated that deal. Wentz wound up making $105,198,279 of the total, from 3 teams.
Carson Wentz signed a 4-year, $128 million extension with the Eagles in 2019. Its base value, over 6 years, folding two years of his rookie deal in, was about $154 million. Today, the Commanders terminated that deal.
Wentz wound up making $105,198,279 of the total, from 3 teams.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 27, 2023
