Jobless former Rams veteran backup may be forced into early retirement

If the Los Angeles Rams were painted into a corner, would the team reunite with former 2023 backup quarterback Carson Wentz? I mean, Wentz was the quarterback who snapped the Rams' nefarious losing streak to the San Francisco 49ers, an act that will forever endear him to the hearts of Rams fans for many years to come.

But after that sensational performance for the Rams, I would have told him to sign with the team at any price. After all, one game did not restore his luster and respect. It merely put him back on the radar of NFL teams seeking a veteran backup quarterback. Unfortunately, he opted to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was given the chance to start for the Chiefs, but the results of that outing were horrific.

He started for the Chiefs in Week 18 and was demolished by the Denver Broncos by a score of 38-0, revealing the hidden reasons why he was not re-signed by the Rams. He was simply unable to generate any offense for the Chiefs against a very stingy Broncos defense. But as feared, his futility with the Chiefs' potent offense restored the fears that many NFL teams shared before his partial season with the Rams.

Carson Wentz is simply not a solid NFL starter. Ironically, he arrived in the NFL in the same draft that served to give Jared Goff his NFL start. Right now, Goff is considered one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL, while Carson Wentz seems to be washed up.

That same fate may have claimed Jared Goff's NFL career, too, but the Rams signed veteran QB Dan Orlovsky specifically to mentor Goff in viewing and interpreting video footage to prepare for NFL defenses. With no evidence that Wentz was educated in studying NFL defenses, he may be forced into early retirement.

It's telling that despite multiple NFL teams scrambling for quarterbacks this offseason, Wentz was never rumored to be in the queue for any NFL team. Wentz has played nine seasons in the NFL, and that is a longer career than many football players enjoy in the NFL. But with no interest from any NFL teams as NFL training camps start, Wentz is almost certainly facing forced retirement.

He may not be ready to retire, but he may have no other options. After nine seasons, he may have to accept that the NFL is ready to move on without him.

As always, thanks for reading.

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