Ron Rivera Says Commanders Won't Bench Carson Wentz as QB Despite 9 Sacks vs. Eagles

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera isn't going to make a change at quarterback right now.

Speaking to reporters after Sunday's 24-8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Rivera definitively said "no" when asked if he is going to replace Carson Wentz after he was sacked nine times.

The Commanders traded a 2022 second-round and third-round pick along with a conditional pick in 2023 to the Indianapolis Colts to acquire Wentz. They also received a 2022 second-round and seventh-round pick in the deal.

Wentz was coming off a solid statistical season in Indianapolis, but the way the Colts finished in 2021 left a lot to be desired. He threw for 185 yards, turned the ball over twice and was sacked six times in a 26-11 Week 18 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that ended the Colts' playoff hopes.

Things apparently got so bad on the field and behind the scenes that Colts head coach Frank Reich apologized to owner Jim Irsay for lobbying to acquire Wentz from the Eagles, per Zak Keefer of The Athletic.

While there is no indication of drama in the Commanders locker room right now, Wentz is still making the same mistakes that cost him down the stretch in 2021.

The Eagles held Wentz to 24 passing yards and registered twice as many sacks (six) as completions allowed (three) in the first half. Washington had minus-16 net passing yards through the first two quarters.

In his first three games as Washington's quarterback, Wentz has four turnovers (three interceptions, one lost fumble) and has been sacked 15 times.

The Commanders have been outscored 46-0, and the offense has managed just 87 yards in the first half of the past two games combined.

Taylor Heinicke is the No. 2 quarterback on Washington's roster. He started 15 games last season, throwing for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The 29-year-old is best known for racking up 352 yards of offense and accounting for two touchdowns in the Commanders' 31-23 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 NFC Wild Card Game.

Sunday's loss to the Eagles dropped Washington's record to 1-2 overall.