Commanders QB Wentz to Miss 4-6 Weeks

Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz faces a 4-to-6-week recovery for a hand injury, and the Commanders are considering placing him on injured reserve, NFL Media reported on Monday afternoon.

With Wentz out, the Commanders will turn to backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke for at least their next four games against the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.

Wentz and the 2-4 Commanders never found their footing this season. In six games, Wentz recorded 1,489 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. His 34.1 quarterback rating through six games is a career-low for the former Eagles and Colts quarterback.

Wentz's relationship with Commanders' coach Ron Rivera was under the microscope for the past two weeks. On Oct. 10, Rivera said the Commanders sat in last place in the NFC East because of their struggles at quarterback.

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However, following the team's win against the Bears last Thursday, Rivera defended Wentz with some real fire in a press conference.

"Everybody keeps wanting to say I didn't want anything to do with Carson," Rivera said. "Well b-------. I'm the f------ guy that pulled out the sheets of paper, that looked at the analytics, that watched the tape in freaking Indianapolis. And that's what pisses me off. Because the young man doesn't deserve to have this all the time."

For now, Rivera will have to deal with Heinicke, who played in 16 games last season. He recorded 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Heinicke also played in the Commanders' last playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. He finished that game with 306 yards, one touchdown and one interception.