Was that the end of the Carson Wentz saga?
A little over a week before the 2016 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles traded two first-round picks, a second-round pick, a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns to move up to the second overall spot so they could pick their quarterback of the future.
That player was Carson Wentz, the 23-year-old, five-time FCS championship-winning quarterback from North Dakota State. That was nine and a half years ago … and buddy, it’s felt like a lifetime.
If nothing else, Carson Wentz was tough
Wentz has been a polarizing fella. He hasn’t always been good, but he has, for a time at least, been the best. He certainly hasn’t always been likable, but he has been the man. They say you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Some people can come back from that villain arc, but it’s all circumstantial, and Wentz might’ve become one of those people.
Tik tokers are too young to remember 2017 Carson Wentz but they woulda been obsessed pic.twitter.com/IFawZzXfxa
— VBS (@VBSofficial_) October 24, 2023
The 2017 season was magical for the guy. He was
— All About The Birds (@AATBirds) September 19, 2025
Wentz didn’t leave the game, though. He stayed in for four more plays and threw a touchdown to Alshon Jeffrey, which set Eagles’ single-season record at 33.
That scramble was a franchise-changing play for the Eagles, and a career-changing play for Wentz. He was never as explosive or dynamic ever again, but he was always incredibly tough, often to his detriment.
The Eagles ended up winning their first-ever Super Bowl that season on the back of a herculean postseason effort by Nick Foles, but going into the 2018 campaign, there was never a
He’d never recapture that magic, though. In 2018, he had stress fractures in his back, which hampered him throughout the season and eventually caused him to miss the end of the year and the playoffs. In 2019, he was healthy but constantly trying to play hero ball, and then he got concussed in a playoff game against the Seahawks.
Then, in 2020, everything fell apart. The hero ball increased by a whole lot, and his effectiveness decreased by even more. There were stories about he and his teammates butting heads, about him not taking coaching well and only working on the parts of his game that he wanted to. That’s not a recipe, let alone a shopping list, for success.
The Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round of that year's draft. In Week 13, Wentz got benched, and the Hurts era began. It was definitely time for Wentz to go … and that’s exactly what happened. The Eagles traded him to the Colts for a conditional first-round pick, which directly led to the Eagles getting DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Jalen Carter and Cooper DeJean. Hence that ACL-tearing scramble being a franchise-altering play.
In Indianapolis, Wentz hurt his foot in the preseason, had surgery and got healthy (enough) to play in the season opener. That level of health, once again, was in question because, once again, he got hurt during a Rams game. This time it was a
In 2022, he was traded to the Washington Commanders. He started the season with a win over the Jaguars. In that game, he threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns (and also two interceptions on back-to-back plays). That was the high point of his season.
He’d end up losing four of the next five games, including a Week 3 loss to the Eagles where he was sacked nine times. He broke his finger in Week 6, went on injured reserve, lost his starting job and only really came back in relief of Taylor Heinicke. Halfway through the 2023 season, the Rams signed him to be Matthew Stafford’s backup. He only played in a meaningless Week 18 game that season.
In 2024, the Chiefs picked him up to be Patrick Mahomes' backup. In 2016, Nick Foles reunited with Andy Reid in Kansas City, and it rekindled Foles’ love for football after it was sucked away from him when he played for the St. Louis Rams. But Wentz only played a handful of snaps in games that mattered, and then he ended the season playing poorly in another meaningless Week 18 game. He would end up making it to the Super Bowl and watch yet another one of his backup quarterbacks (Hurts) win, while Wentz sat on the bench.
Then this year, near the end of training camp, the Vikings signed Wentz to be J.J. McCarthy’s backup. Wentz has been the Vikings’ starting quarterback since Week 3 because McCarthy has either hurt, bad or both, depending on who you ask. That made Wentz the first quarterback in NFL history to start at quarterback for six different teams in six consecutive seasons.
On Thursday, October 23, the Vikings played the Chargers. Minnesota down both starting tackles and their starting center; even if he was healthy and playing well, Wentz didn’t stand a chance. Sure enough, he got hit. He got hit again. He smashed his hand on a helmet. He got hit again. He got hit some more … and Kevin O’Connell never took him out of the game.
It went from, "Oh, Carson Wentz is just playing like Carson Wentz," to "he’s getting slaughtered out there. Why is he still in? Is this a personal vendetta? How bad is Max Brosmer? KOC’s got to get him out of there."
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 24, 2025Just feel awful for Carson Wentz on a human level.
It feels legitimately irresponsible that he was allowed to play almost the entire game. pic.twitter.com/FQwdQY4NoC
It was ugly and it was sad. The level of football that Carson Wentz has played over his career has varied, and it has varied big time. But the one thing that’s never changed is his toughness.
He’s played a little hurt, and he’s played just about as hurt as you could possibly be while still functioning. This game was just too far. The shoulder injury might’ve been to his non-throwing shoulder, but after every single throw he was wincing. After every hit he took (eight hits and five sacksin all), he was writhing in pain.
He ended the day going 15-of-27 for 144 yards, a touchdown and an interception. So, you know, on top of getting annihilated he also played terribly. Yes, the Vikings do have a mini-bye since that game was on a Thursday, but there is no possible way that Minnesota can rightfully (football-wise or on a human level) let Wentz start another game this season.
If this is the end of the Carson Wentz era in the NFL, then it’s been a hell of a ride. The man directly helped bring the Eagles their first Super Bowl, and indirectly got them another one. He’s had chances to right his ship with multiple franchises, and he’s had to see the guys he’s played with win everything multiple times.
He went from being the prince who was promised to weekday cannon fodder. If his career were a song, it’d be a ballad. If it were a story, it’d be a tragedy.
Browns Make Feelings Clear on Trade for Former Ohio State Star WR
Garrett Wilson’s name has surfaced amid rampant trade speculation involving the Cleveland Browns this week, but the Jets’ wide receiver isn’t on the team’s radar, even with Cleveland’s clear need at the position.
Wilson, a former Ohio State star, has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. This year, he’s recorded 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns, though the Jets remain the league’s only winless team.
Despite the outside chatter, New York isn’t shopping Wilson, who recently inked a lucrative four-year extension, and the Browns aren’t pursuing him either, per insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Cabot reported that while Cleveland hopes to be “buyers” at the trade deadline rather than sellers, Wilson isn’t part of those plans.
“It won’t be Jets receiver Garrett Wilson, because the Jets undoubtedly won’t part with him after they just signed him to a four-year extension in July worth $130 million, including $90 million guaranteed,” Cabot said. “Despite rumors on social media, the Browns haven’t given it any thought, in part because they know the Jets wouldn’t consider it, even though they’re 0-7.”
Cabot also noted that any move for a top-tier pass-catcher is more likely to come during the offseason.
Browns Veterans David Njoku, Wyatt Teller Likely Staying Put
The Browns sit at 2-5 but still have faint playoff aspirations. Cleveland has an elite defense and the AFC North is still up for grabs, though the margin for error is quickly shrinking. If the Browns can pull off an upset against New England on Sunday, the team’s postseason hopes would get a much-needed jolt of momentum heading into the bye week.
The trade deadline is on Nov. 4, and Cleveland is not planning on moving key veterans like tight end David Njoku or guard Wyatt Teller. However, Cabot noted that trading quarterback Joe Flacco earlier this season wasn’t in the Browns’ plans either.
“As for being sellers in this cycle, they’re not actively trying to trade any of their big-name players in the final years of their contract such as David Njoku or Wyatt Teller, but they also didn’t plan on trading Joe Flacco or Newsome until the Bengals and Jaguars proposed those deals,” Cabot said.
Browns Looking for More From Dillon Gabriel
The Browns want to see more from rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is averaging just 5.1 yards per attempt and playing very conservatively. But he’ll need help from his wide receivers, who have been plagued by drops. Browns pass-catchers have accounted for 16 drops this season — second in the NFL.
“There’s still a lot for me to learn, and I hope I never stop learning,” Gabriel said. “I want to continue to learn and get better, and that’s what I would say. But like I said, it’s day by day. It’s week by week. You’re going to continue to grow, and you want to keep that going in a positive direction.”
Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. However, he’s been unable to put up similar numbers this season. Jeudy has just 22 catches for 257 yards and has yet to find the end zone. But he hasn’t lost faith in Gabriel, who has gone 1-2 as the starter.
“Every game he’s just gaining confidence, understanding the speed of the game, knowing where to go with the ball and recognizing coverages,” Jeudy said. “I feel like he’s just getting better each week, and that’s what we need from him.”
The Browns are a 7.5-point underdog against the Patriots for their Week 8 clash.
