Carson Wentz 'Did the Best He Could' With Commanders, Ron Rivera Says

The Washington Commanders released quarterback Carson Wentz on Monday, ending his tenure with the team after just one season. However, head coach Ron Rivera said he'll look back on his brief time with Wentz fondly.

"I really do appreciate everything he did for us, and the opportunity that he had coming here," Rivera told reporters at the NFL combine on Tuesday (h/t Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk). "He did the best he could, and we really appreciate that as well."

Rivera further explained the team's thinking behind Monday's decision to cut Wentz while reiterating his positive stance toward the 30-year-old.

"Well, you know, there's a lot of things that we have to look at as far as our team is concerned. Everything from the cap to the position itself, and the situational circumstances we went through last year," Rivera said. "He's a heck of a young man. He's a solid man and I want to wish him the best."

The Commanders acquired Wentz in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts last offseason, parting ways with 2022 second- and third-round picks and a 2023 conditional third-round pick to bring him in along with 2022 second- and seventh-round picks.

Unfortunately, Wentz's 2022 campaign was derailed by a fractured finger on his throwing hand suffered in Week 6. By the time he was recovered, the team had given the starting position to Taylor Heinicke, who is a free agent this offseason.

In eight appearances this season, Wentz completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

After cutting Wentz, the only quarterback remaining on the roster is Sam Howell, who led the Commanders to victory in the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. He threw for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the lone appearance of his rookie season.