The Colts are “still working through” their quarterback situation, GM Chris Ballard says (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star).
With that in mind, Ballard says that he’ll make a decision on “what’s best for the team” in the next ten days along with head coach Frank Reich and owner Jim Irsay. 
Wentz was widely panned for his Week 18 performance against the Jaguars, the loss that cost the Colts a playoff berth. He also clashed with team brass throughout the year and even rankled Irsay. Ballard has yet to give Wentz a vote of confidence, a sign that they could be ready to move on.
“When we made the decision, after Philip [Rivers] retired and we made the decision to make a move on Carson, at the time of the decision we felt good about it and I still don’t regret the decision at the time,” Ballard said in January. “Sitting here today, just so y’all know, I won’t make a comment on who is going to be here next year and who is not going to be here next year. That’s not fair to any player.”
Still, the Colts are projected to have upwards of $37MM in cap room this year — good for seventh in the league — and that’s with Wentz on the books. It’s also worth noting that he managed to finish ninth in QBR, despite so-so production from his wide receivers. Given Wentz’s solid 27-7 TD-INT ratio in 2021, the Colts still have reason to keep him. But, if they don’t, Wentz could fetch at least some draft capital in a trade.
Releasing Wentz would save the Colts another $13MM, if they do so by March 19. If he stays, he’ll be under contract with a $28MM cap number for the coming year.
Wentz mostly played pretty well throughout the year, especially for someone who injured both ankles and missed the offseason. He also doesn’t deserve blame for the Colts’ disappointing season on his own-Indianapolis lost some close games due to bad luck or bad officiating as well as poor team play on either offense or defense. There were a couple of coin flip like games that teams such as Baltimore or Tampa got credit for winning and the Colts (mostly Wentz) got bashed for.
That said, Wentz is not immune from criticism here. He had a few moments where, yes, he was to blame for setting his team back or getting bailed out. I remember a pick or two that the defense held the opposing team from scoring. All of that is one thing, but if he truly did “rankle team brass” as is rumored, he really needs to reconsider his position. Wentz was given a second chance by Indy, and his coach stuck his neck out to vouch for him. He is in the stage where he needs to prove that he belongs, not in the stage where he can be making or refusing demands. I would not be surprised if that, and not his play, is why the Colts are still “evaluating” the quarterback position.
Wentz could bounce back with Indianapolis next season, and I think those chances are good, but he needs to approach this job like what it really is-a chance to redeem his reputation as a starting quarterback.
His piss-poor play against the leagues worst team in the final game of the year cost the colts a chance in the play-offs. That’s all on Wentz! On paper the Colts have the most talented team in the NFL. Yet still couldn’t make the post season.
I said part of the blame is on Wentz. I also said that piling the blame entirely all on a guy who threw 27 TDs and 7INTs is lazy.
Those numbers are very misleading. Don’t let the 27/7 TD to Int fool you. The dude flat out disappeared and disappointed in a lot of games this year. The patriots game on national tv is a perfect example
Again, I will say that Wentz deserves some criticism. And again, I will also say that he is not the only thing that went wrong with the Colts this year, and that he is not the only issue roster-wise and that what he did overall was more good than it was bad.
I am not dismissing his bad play, I am evaluating it in conjunction with his good play and the other factors out of his control. And with those things considered, the evaluation of Wentz as a total bust seems to be more emotion driven than logically driven, and also it is accurate to say that he does need to improve. All of those things are true. One does not negate the other.
It’s logical that he is a bust in his only year in Indy when u consider his GM and Coach aren’t commuting to him for ‘22. If they had a Mahomes or Allen as QB or any other above average QB they would’ve had a deep run in the playoffs.
Maybe, but calling a player after one year is premature in most contexts. I see where you’re coming from, but I would say that there are a lot of factors that played in to this beyond Wentz himself.
Again, I want to stress that I am NOT in any way absolving him of responsibility. I do think it’s realistic though to note that he was not a total loss as it has been portrayed and for a franchise that has played leapfrog with quarterbacks recently some stability may benefit them in the long run-even if it is only enough to determine a successor. I don’t have much more to add beyond that.
Dude…you are the exact fan Irsay is hoping to play to because you actually believe this is the most talented team on paper! You think Irsay (let’s be clear he would be making that decision, nobody else) is being a good owner by placating to such idiocy. The Colts have 1 receiving weapon…compare that with the remaining 4 teams. You say Wentz’s stats are misleading, yet you ignore how misleading the stats and production of the defense is…like I said, you are Irsay’s favorite fan, an uneducated one!!
Colts GM Chris Ballard on Carson Wentz: “Please, please give us literally anything for this turkey.”
“I won’t make a comment on who is going to be here next year and who is not going to be here next year. That’s not fair to any player.”
Leading a player on about his status with the team isn’t fair either but we know GMs will do that, particularly if it gives them an edge against the competition.
Pittsburgh or Washington?
As a Steeler fan I wouldn’t hate adding Wentz… but only if he’s released. I’m not trading draft picks for him, especially since the Steelers have traded away too many picks recently. But regardless he’d be a whole lot better than what they have now.
please let him be dealt to Washington
I mean if you get him for a 4th and restructure his contract it would be just fine…but I suspect teams will force Irsay to cut him and see if he is as tough as he is pretending to be to his gullible fans.
He regrets losing the 1st
As a Colts fan I will be glad to see him go. He single handedly lost them two games with his unconscionably bad interceptions trying to “throw” out of his own end zone.
Who lost the other 6 then? They lost 8 games.
You singlehandedly blame him for at least 2 losses, does he get any credit for the 9 wins? Also, in the Colts losses he threw picks in where games they gave up 27, 34, 38 and 26 points. Did he also play defense those games and miss some tackles?
Stop bringing up facts!!!
he could fit in a Minnesota uni
The Vikings already have a QB and a very good one at that
The Colts have nobody in the queue to replace Wentz. Seems hard to believe they would again go into next season with someone else’s discard.