Mitchell Trubisky took the honor as the first quarterback in the NFL to be benched this season. Vegas has released odds on the next quarterback to be sacked by his team. According to BetOnline, the best odds for the next benched quarterback belongs to Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz.
Wentz comes in with +125 odds, leapfrogging Carolina Panthers’ Baker Mayfield. But would the Commanders bench Wentz?
On the one hand, there are 28.3 million reasons why the Commanders would prefer to stick with Wentz the longest. However, the Commanders are 1-3 with a three-game losing streak.
Wentz has been sacked 17 times and thrown five interceptions. He is the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL this season. Only has Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams thrown more interceptions.
Following the Commanders’ Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Wentz said, “I’ve got to be more accurate.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin benched Trubisky during Pittsburgh’s Week 4 loss to the New York Jets for rookie Kenny Pickett. Earlier this week, Tomlin named Pickett the starting quarterback moving forward.
Trubisky was a stopgap solution. The Steelers put Trubisky on borrowed time when the team selected Pickett 20th overall in this year’s draft. Pittsburgh only is on the hook for $6.825 million to Trubisky this season.
However, the Commanders viewed Wentz as the solution to their troubles despite the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts giving up on the quarterback in back-to-back seasons. Washington traded a conditional 2023 third-round draft pick that could turn into a second-rounder along with a swap of second-round picks in this past draft.
Washington believed in Wentz so much that the team took on his $28.3 million salary for 2022. Unlike Tomlin, there is debate about Rivera’s job security. Rivera has yet to have a winning record entering his third year as the Commanders’ head coach.
This week, Rivera hinted Washington is “getting closer” to making changes. Yet, Rivera did not specify those changes. Could he be talking about a quarterback change?
If the Commanders bench Wentz, which quarterback is likely to replace him?
Taylor Heinicke started 15 games last season for the Commanders. But, his limitations put Washington in the market for a quarterback this past offseason. Still, he has had some success, flashing at times.
Heinicke also has a great deal of familiarity with offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s offense from his time with the Panthers and Washington under Rivera.
Meanwhile, the Commanders have a potential hidden gem stashed away in fifth-round draft pick, rookie Sam Howell. Howell has been inactive for Washington’s four games this season. Would Rivera turn the reigns over to a developing rookie?
The Commanders host the Tennessee Titans in Week 5. Wentz will get an opportunity to stave off the calls for his benching.
