$131 Million QB Sends Fitting Message as Rams Concerns Emerge

The uncertainty around Matthew Stafford has led to speculation about who the Los Angeles Rams could turn to should Jimmy Garoppolo (or Stetson Bennett IV or Dresser Winn) fail to meet expectations, and Carson Wentz is among the options readily available.

LA and Wentz have a history, with the former No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won a ring in 2017, spending the 2023 season with the Rams.

Judging from his post to his Instagram story, Wentz is just biding his time.

Wentz, 32, spent the 2024 season with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders. Wentz shared an image of an NFL-branded football and captioned it with an hourglass emoji, drawing fan interest in a Rams reunion.

The intrigue around Wentz returning to the Rams existed before the post, particularly with Stafford’s situation becoming more nebulous with every update.

Wentz is coming off a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

He has earned $131.9 million in his career. The Rams, meanwhile, have $19.4 million in space after free agency and signing their draft picks, per Over The Cap, and could offer Wentz an opportunity to join a projected playoff team.

Rams Urged to Add Carson Wentz as Top ‘Emergency QB Option’

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin listed Wentz as the No. 1 “emergency” option and only free agent on a list including backups in former Rams QB John Wolford, now of the Jacksonville Jaguars, LA Chargers backup Taylor Heinicke, and expensive Atlanta Falcons backup Kirk Cousins.

“This is the one glaring name still unsigned from this year’s free agent quarterback class,” Benjamin wrote on August 6.

“The one-time Philadelphia Eagles star became a fast favorite of McVay as Stafford’s emergency backup in 2023. He even scored three times in a spot start for L.A. to close the year. Yes, he’s bounced around. Yes, he’s been scattershot. But if the Rams at any point need a bargain rental with some explosive traits, it’s hard to think they could do much better than Wentz.”

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the “Rams remain confident” that they will get Stafford back to start the regular season.

The Rams will open the 2025 campaign against the Houston Texans on August 7.

That is hardly a guarantee, though, especially given how the situation around Stafford’s back injury has devolved from a non-concern to injections. Suggestions like Wentz for the Rams will likely continue.

Rams Get Bad News About Matthew Stafford

McVay initially expected Stafford to miss five practices of camp, but that has been extended without a definitive timeline for the Pro Bowl QB, leading to Wentz and other suggestions.

“Sources: #Rams QB Matthew Stafford is dealing with an aggravated disc and has received an epidural to help him deal with it,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X on August 6. “Los Angeles has called him week-to-week, being cautious, but with plans for him to be ready for Week 1.

“The #Rams remain confident that Matthew Stafford will be ready to begin the regular season. But as was clear during yesterday’s joint practice with the #Cowboys, they love what Jimmy Garoppolo brings as his backup.”

In 2022, Stafford dealt with an elbow issue during the offseason that required treatment.

He returned in time for the regular season, but only played in nine games due to a spinal contusion that caused numbness in his legs.

Wentz would not be a replacement for Stafford, and he would have to catch up to usurp Garoppolo. He should have no issue leapfrogging Bennett and Winn, though, which would put him on trade to step in for the Rams if Garoppolo goes down and Stafford is still out.