Commanders' Carson Wentz Responds to Rumors of Leadership Issues with Eagles, Colts

Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz said he won't address every rumor surrounding questions about his leadership during previous stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts.

"Reports are reports and there are truth in some things. But if we try to combat every report, we run out of things to say. I just try to be myself," Wentz told reporters Thursday. "... I strongly feel I had amazing relationships with people in Philly and in Indy."

Wentz opened his career with five years as a member of the Eagles after being selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft. He spent just one season with the Colts before getting dealt to the Commanders in a deal that became official Wednesday.

While he dealt with some injuries in Philly, he's mostly performed well with 140 touchdown passes and 57 interceptions across 85 career games. That 2.46 TD-to-INT ratio ranks seventh among NFL quarterbacks, according to the Football Database.

Yet, issues beyond Wentz's on-field performance emerged in both Philadelphia and Indianapolis.

Zak Keefer of The Athletic reported the Colts' concerns about Wentz started before he played a single snap for the franchise. Those concerns only grew from there as they became frustrated with "a lack of leadership, a resistance to hard coaching and a reckless style of play."

Even without a replacement on the roster, Indy's front office felt a "simmering unease" with the quarterback and decided they were "moving on from Wentz, period," per Keefer.

Meanwhile, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week on an incident during the Eagles' run to the Super Bowl LII title in 2017 where Wentz, who was sidelined by a torn ACL, "voiced his displeasure" about the team's success without him.

Philly felt the quarterback "struggled with accountability" and thought that situation "revealed character defects," which led the team's front office to consider whether its predraft evaluation of Wentz "didn't place enough emphasis on questionable character traits," per McLane.

Now the 29-year-old North Dakota State product will hope to leave that reputation behind him as he takes over as the Commanders' starting quarterback.

It's a move that doesn't come without risk for Washington, but the front office clearly believed it was a chance worth taking as the team's roster is otherwise talented enough to make some noise in the NFC if it gets improved QB play.

Wentz can help change the narrative of his career if he leads the Commanders toward championship contention.