Everybody loves a good underdog story, though how Carson Wentz ended up as a member of the Los Angeles Rams isn't exactly one of those.
The Rams officially signed Wentz on Wednesday, offering him a chance to rebuild a career that started when he was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. That actually made him the opposite of an "underdog,'' though he has since fallen into disfavor in the league, having been dumped by the Eagles, then the Colts, then the Commanders ...
And now? Matthew Stafford is dealing with an injury. The Rams have a vacancy. And the Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy is excited about the match.
"I wish @cj_wentz the best with this move," Dungy wrote Tuesday night on social media. "I believe he can help the Rams while Stafford trying to get back to 100% healthy.''
There are no numbers that suggest that Dungy is correct. But Wentz - though is his (suddenly!) age 30 - does have that draft-day pedigree. He's 6-5, 237. He was a star at North Dakota State star.
And, for what it is worth, Dungy has always liked him.
Back in January 2018, Dungy, now a long-time NBC analyst, predicted that Wentz would become "the best quarterback in the league in a very short time."
Dungy was very wrong.
Wentz moved to the Colts in 2021, and Dungy did it again, declaring that Wentz would transform the Colts into "Super Bowl contenders.''
Dungy was very wrong again.
Wentz is "coming off the couch'' as the Rams add him to a roster that also includes journeyman Brett Rypien, who threw for 130 yards and an interception in Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Maybe the supervision of Rams head coach Sean McVay can help Wentz succeed at some level. But what the 3-6 Rams really need is a healing of Stafford's thumb injury as L.A. goes into its bye week and then plays again on Nov. 19 at home against the Seahawks.
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