What will Carson Wentz show LA Rams fans in Week 18?

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IV: Wentz can absorb offensive snaps for Rams offense

Even as we believe that the Rams will benefit from far more utility over getting some optics and hard data from starting Carson Wentz in this Rams offense, we cannot simply pooh-pooh that benefit away as insignificant. The Rams learned just how ineffective this offense was in Week 9 when led by backup QB Brett Rypien. Of course, the Rams were painted into a corner by the loss of rookie backup QB Stetson Bennett for the entirety of the 2023 NFL season. When Rypien proved to be ineffective, the Rams agreed to terms with Caron Wentz.

No, Carson Wentz does not walk on water. By all estimations, Wentz is a veteran quarterback who was afforded a starting role on three different NFL teams. But whether expectations over his performance were set too high, or he was simply no longer a fit in those offensive schemes, the teams all decided to part ways with Wentz.

So why is Wentz a viable option for the LA Rams? You need look no further than his salary cap history, as provided by Spotrac.com. After his rookie contract, Wentz's average annual earnings over the past four seasons before signing with the Rams has been $26 million per year. The LA Rams negotiated a one-year contract that pays $770,000.

Low-risk, high reward contracts change the complexion of everything.

For Wentz to restore his NFL reputation, he knew that joining the LA Rams offered a golden opportunity to do exactly that. He witnessed what the LA Rams did in 2022 to help Bake Mayfield recapture his mojo, and undoubtedly agreed to join the Rams roster with the hopes of a similar outcome.

The only way to do that, however, is to get an opportunity to play. That is exactly what the latest Rams rumors suggest will happen:

The #Rams will start Carson Wentz at QB Sunday against the #49ers, sources say. Sean McVay gives Matthew Stafford a breather before the postseason while Wentz gets his first start in just over a calendar year. pic.twitter.com/iaVM2xJFI8
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 3, 2024

Of course, an opportunity is nothing more than that - a chance. From the opening offensive snap, it will be up to Carson Wentz to determine his NFL future. But let's understand that from the Rams perspective, the benefit begins and extends through each snap that Wentz plays and Stafford rests.

This is chess strategy, not checker. And so, there are more benefits to discuss:

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