Patrick Mahomes has a new backup quarterback: Carson Wentz.
Late Monday night, the Kansas City Chiefs and Wentz agreed to a one-year contract, a league source confirmed. An eight-year veteran, Wentz will have the chance to help the Chiefs, a team looking to become the first NFL franchise to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
Wentz spent 11 games with the Los Angeles Rams as Matthew Stafford’s backup last season. In two games, including one start, Wentz recorded 163 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also led the Rams to a victory against the San Francisco 49ers in the team’s regular season finale.
Even at 31, Wentz should be the most athletic backup Kansas City has had in the Mahomes era. During his seven-year career, Mahomes’ backups were Matt Moore, Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert, all of whom were in the twilight of their careers and primarily operated the offense from inside the pocket.
Listed at 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, Wentz is capable of being a running option if the Chiefs want to reinstall the quarterback in their offense. The last time Kansas City had a quarterback was October 17, 2019, against the Denver Broncos.
With the Chiefs in the red zone on Thursday night, Mahomes rushed on fourth-and-1 for 2 yards. But he suffered a dislocated right kneecap during the game after being hit by defensive end Derek Wolfe, an injury that coach Andy Reid years later recognized as a rare occurrence.
Required reading
(Photo: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)