ASHBURN, Va. – Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz This provides a level of comfort that was not possible in Indianapolis and Philadelphia.
He is content with the family situation. They’re living in a rural town in northern Virginia more than an hour outside of the nation’s capital, reminding him more of his North Dakota roots. His wife has two daughters and three dogs. He lives a life that suits him.
Wentz is also happy with his new team. A 1,000-yard receiver will surround the quarterback (Terry McLaurin), a 1,000-yard rusher (Antonio Gibson), an all-around tight end (Logan Thomas) and a first-round rookie receiver who looked good all summer (Jahan Dotson). There’s more, but that’s the starting point.
Wentz, now 29, is in a good place. After being traded twice in the offseasons before arriving in Washington, Wentz is a completely different person to the one who arrived in Philadelphia six year ago as the No. 2nd overall pick. He is settled in Washington and has formed bonds with his teammates over steaks, golf, and dates with spouses.
Wentz is learning to be a better listener in the locker room and has exuded an air of confidence that has the Commanders hopeful he’ll stabilize a position plagued by inconsistency and change the past five years.
The season starts at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox), there is still one question: Will it have an impact on Wentz’s play in the field?
“It’s technically two separate things, but my mind’s not worried about my wife and kids,” Wentz said. “They’re having a good time. I know they’re taken care of so I can be fully invested here, which definitely helps.”
IT IS A The Commanders are entering Year 3 of Ron Rivera’s coaching tenure, a pivotal year. They are aiming for their first winning season since 2016, and their first playoff win ever since 2005.
The success of the organization is essential. It requires stability at quarterback. Since 2018, 10 players have been at the position. That’s why Washington aggressively sought a proven starter this offseason, calling any team whose quarterback might be available – even inquiring about the retired Andrew Luck.
They ended up with Wentz, who sent a second-round selection in the 2022 Draft and what will most likely become a next-rounder next season to the Indianapolis Colts and taking on all of Wentz’s $28.3 million salary this season.
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Wentz was laden with many bags when he arrived in Indy. Jim Irsay the Colts owner was critical of Wentz’s inability to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Wentz’s inconsistent play and inability to lead the Colts to a victory in the final two games last season, which cost the team a spot in the playoffs, didn’t help matters.
Wentz was a touchdown thrower with seven interceptions, and ranked ninth in QBR. However, he was quickly traded to Washington without Indy establishing a replacement plan.
The 2022 season hasn’t started so all is well with his new team. Based on what Wentz showed them in spring and summer practice, the Commanders feel happy.
“He seems to handle everything with an air of confidence but grace,” Rivera said. “He doesn’t, fight it. He doesn’t get mad at it. You see some of the decisions he makes, and you only make those, in my opinion, if you’re confident in what you’re doing.”
The Commanders have told Wentz how much he’s wanted – Rivera said it to him, again, as he returned for training camp.
“He has stabilized that position for us,” Washington general manager Martin Mayhew said. “We’re excited about what he brings to the table in terms of his physical talent and also what he brings to the table as a person, as a leader.”
“You’ve seen things. You see things. You have a different perspective,” Wentz said. “But also just my perspective on being married for four years with a very young locker room, guys that are maybe engaged or may have real life questions, too. All of that comes with experience and being relatable and trying to be authentic.”
Alex Smith, then the No. Washington traded for Alex Smith, the No.1 pick in 2005’s draft. He, too, arrived having experienced a mercurial career arc like Wentz, complete with benchings and injuries and criticism and a trade – as well as success.
Smith was a mature player on the field, with some limitations but great success. Smith confessed to having let the weight of his expectations get to her early in his career. Wentz was able to understand this sentiment.
“You try to not let those things bog you down, but they’re real things,” Wentz said. “I was a 23-year-old kid from North Dakota that never left North Dakota. You are thrown into the fire of Philly and want to succeed. You must learn how to navigate the pressures and expectations, the ups & downs. Before I met my wife I had a strong support group from my family. People around me and my faith have helped me stay grounded. It’s still possible to live it and experience it.
“It’s hard.”
Wentz became controversial while navigating this road.
“We’re not perfect. I’m not perfect,” Wentz said. “I’ve definitely failed in moments, and maybe been a certain type of way, but I try to be the same. I strive to be consistent and authentic. But at the same time sticking true to my values and who I am.”
This means sharing his faith with others, especially when a teammate offers an opportunity — one source says that practice rubbed off on some former teammates.
“It’s always a fine line navigating,” Wentz said, “but that’s also one of the cool parts of a locker room because there are guys from a bunch of different backgrounds and cultures, different upbringing and faiths and who are at different points in their faith journey so that’s kind of fun.
“I try not to think I’m better than anyone else and try not to have judgmental opinions. But I am also showing this is what I believe, let’s have a conversation and do it out of a place of love and not judgment.”
His personality could also be a factor. Wentz said he’s had to learn to harness that trait with his family and that, in turn, can help in a locker room.
“I’ve always been Type A and wired to get stuff done,” he said. “[But] Sometimes they just need my attention to be there. I’ve learned that and tried to grow in that, which is applied to work as well. I enjoy the idea that I can have fun, relax, and be open to new experiences with my fellow guys. But when it’s time to work, I’m relatively locked in and ready to go.”
THE COMMANDERS CAN McLaurin and Dotson are able to help him climb back up the ladder to the top with solid skill talent. Curtis SamuelThomas; Third-down back J.D. McKissic Gibson is a versatile back. These weapons can be maximized if the offensive line protects them.
“We have a guy that we can now establish and rally around and build off of,” Rivera said of Wentz, “which is what we tried to do in the offseason, as far as making sure we had a stout offensive line to protect him and in the playmakers. That’s what you have to do.”
Wentz will take care of the rest. How has he changed? Is that enough? But what comforts him is knowing that his daughters don’t care whether he tossed five touchdowns or two interceptions.
“There’s something bigger than just this game and this job,” Wentz said. “It almost is freeing to just give everything I have to this game and not stress about the outcome, but give it all I have because I want to, because I’m setting an example for my kids.”
That’s partly why he likes living in the northern Virginia countryside, spending time with his wife and kids in horse country.
“We like a slower pace,” Wentz said. “That’s definitely helped the transition for sure. I feel reassured and at peace knowing they love it. They feel safe. They feel good.”
He’s been golfing with defensive tackle Jon Allen and linebacker Cole Holcomb Punter Tress Way. These golfers showed you that there are many things to be learned from playing with others.
“He’s an aggressive swinger,” Allen said. “He always goes for it.”
“If he starts playing really, really well,” Way said, “he refers to himself as ‘Poppa.’ If he has three good holes in a row it’ll be like, ‘Oh, Poppa’s got the flat stick working.’ I told him, ‘I can’t wait until you’re shredding some defense in the season, and I’ll be like Poppa’s got it working today.’”
Holcomb was spotted with Wentz at the Preakness Stakes, as well as other offseason events. They often sit together in team meetings.
“He always takes time out of his day to listen and care what you’re talking about,” Holcomb said. “He’s real competitive, and I just think he’s a good dude.”
There are also the steaks he’s cooked for tackle Charles Leno Jr., and his family as well as Way’s family among others.
And then there’s the date night trips Way and Wentz have made with their spouses to the Escape Room – a timed game in which a party must uncover clues, solve puzzles and accomplish tasks in order to escape from the site of the game. Once in a room, Way said Wentz looks like he’s running the offense – sometimes going into a stance, pointing at a door and telling someone to check it out.
Instantly, the Type-A quarterback in him takes charge.
“He needed to know the record [time],” for getting out, Way said. “He doesn’t want hints. He is determined to do it by himself. I’m like, ‘Hey man we can get three hints and still break the record’ but he’s adamant on breaking the record with no hints. I tried to keep it light, but we got out of the room every time.”
He will surely show his competitiveness when he plays against one of his former coaches (Doug Pederson in Jacksonville); his first team (Philadelphia twice), and the Colts this year.
Wentz also said that he still wonders about what went wrong in Indianapolis last year. He also said he doesn’t want to hold a grudge and prefers to look forward; that means regaining the footing of his career. The man who was hailed as the MVP candidate for 2017 has learned valuable lessons about how to deal with failure and success.
“I’m not going to put all of my life’s worth into this game,” Wentz said. “I’m going to give it everything I have, but I’m going to not stress about the results.
“Life comes at you fast. You’ve got to grow up in a hurry – not that I wasn’t grown up already. But just life transitions change and how they affect you and your perspective on it all changes.”