NFL Rumors: Carson Wentz Open to Backup QB Role as He Receives Interest from Teams

As Carson Wentz continues to bide his time in free agency, he's not necessarily holding out for a starting job at this point.

Appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Wentz has received some interest from teams and is open to being a backup.

"I was told he's been working out in L.A., plans to play this year," Fowler explained. "He's had interest from some teams. He's open to various roles; could be as a starter, could be as a backup, but he just wants to play this coming year."

Wentz is the most prominent free-agent quarterback still available, though there hasn't been any indication of a specific team that might be interested in him.

Coming out of the most prominent stages of free agency and after the draft, most clubs are probably comfortable with their quarterback room at this point.

Since Wentz has already made it this far into the offseason without signing a deal, he might benefit from waiting until training camp and preseason games start. Teams might not like what they see from the guys on their roster, or they might need to find someone who can step in because of an injury.

Being amenable to a backup role will also open up opportunities for Wentz. Most clubs already have their starter in place, while the few that aren't 100 percent sure presumably have a strong idea of which way they want to go.

Wentz could seek out a team where the potential starter could be on thin ice if they struggle to start the season. He might also be inclined to find the best situation with a coaching staff that can help get his career back on track.

Since the start of the 2020 season, Wentz has thrown for 7,938 yards, 54 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in 37 appearances. He's played for a different team in each of the past three years (Philadelphia Eagles in 2020; Indianapolis Colts in 2021; Washington Commanders in 2022).

Wentz's 32.9 QBR last season ranked 30th out of 31 qualified starting quarterbacks. He suffered a fractured ring finger in Washington's Week 6 win over the Chicago Bears.

The Commanders went with Taylor Heinicke as their starter for nine games, even after Wentz was back to full health. Wentz did make one more start in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. He went 16-of-28 for 143 yards and three interceptions in a 24-10 loss.