8:59pm: The seventh-year quarterback underwent successful surgery Monday, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes (via Twitter) he is expected to require roughly four weeks to recover. The Commanders have not yet determined if they will place Wentz on IR. Such a move would sideline Wentz for a minimum of four games.
2:32pm: Carson Wentz suffered a fractured finger in his throwing hand on Thursday, and he is facing a lengthy absence as a result. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the Commanders quarterback has a recovery timeline of four to six weeks, meaning an IR placement is in consideration. 
Wentz initially expressed an intention of playing though the injury, but that will not be possible along this return schedule. Being placed on IR would force him to miss at least four weeks, and Rapoport adds that surgery is also a possibility at this point (video link).
The 29-year-old was limited to just 99 passing yards during Washington’s win over the Bears, one which saw the team’s offensive struggles continue. On the season, Wentz has totaled 1,489 yards while completing 62% of his passes, along with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. His performance in Week 3 led to questions about a potential benching, but head coach Ron Rivera was quick to shoot those down.
Rivera then made further headlines by naming “quarterback” as the reason the 2-4 Commanders lag behind the rest of the NFC East. Walking back those remarks, he defended his role in the team’s decision to trade for Wentz during this offseason’s volatile QB market. The Commanders took on the remainder of his contract in full as part of the swap, one which is due to pay him over $53MM in non-guaranteed money after this season.
Also of note in this situation is the conditional nature of one of the picks Washington sent Indianapolis as part of the trade. The team’s 2023 third-rounder will convert to a second-rounder if Wentz plays in 70% or more of the Commanders’ snaps this season – something which would be put in serious jeopardy if he misses an extended period. Assuming he misses at least the next two contests, this news also means that Wentz will not be available for Washington’s trip to Indianapolis in Week 8.
In the absence of the former No. 2 overall pick, Washington will turn to veteran backup Taylor Heinicke – who has a history of extended play both in the regular and post-season with the team. Their next option on the depth chart is fifth-round rookie Sam Howell.
Will they even know he is gone?
Wentz’s highs are still fairly high and his lows are full meltdown. Say what you will about him, but the man is noticeable–even down to his bizarre outfits.
Yet somehow, Wentz will still manage to get sacked multiple times and throw an awful interception this Sunday. I’m convinced that Wentz could get sacked in an empty room.
I believe Haskins and Smith were getting sacked at double digit percentage rates when they were with the team so the OL hasn’t shown great improvement since then.
The Washington Commanders: first in war, first in peace, last in the NFC East … until Daniel Jones starts throwing interceptions.
They’re not really letting Daniel Jones throw down field much this year so I don’t think he’s going to suddenly start throwing any. Part of it is tailoring the game to Danny’s skills (short throws, utilizing his running ability), part of it is Saquon and the improved run-blocking, part of it is their injured/bad WR corps.
Blessing in disguise.
Time to rebuild with Howell
Rumor is that Heinicke is to start because Howell “isn’t ready.”
Heinicke is young enough and has shown enough to where he could end up being the long-term guy. Might as well start him now.
He’s only 75 days younger than Wentz.
A lot less tread on the tires. Wentz’s near MVP season followed by the injuries and the trades seem to have deflated him permanently.
That said Heinicke is not a long term answer. He’s a Brian Hoyer type good pinch hitter, not a starting quarterback. His frame can’t take the week in/week out hits. Look at how Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields were all beat up this week, Matt Stafford, Joe Burrows every week. Lamar Jackson is nifty enough to mostly get hit by defensive backs or arm tackled.
Beyond durability, Heinicke has a 70% arm. He can make 70% of the NFL throws with any regularity.
Great guy, smart guy, can come in hot from the sidelines, help with analysis, but not a season long starter.
Ouch. Wentz is just a walking injury report at this point in his career. Ever since since his back injuries began in Philly, it seems that he’s had issues all over-ankles, feet, hands, back, and fingers. Maybe it would be best to just take a year off instead of continually playing injured? I don’t know if that will be helpful, but it has to have some impact on his fall from grace.
Taking a year off would probably be safer than getting a massage.
He’s only missed 12 games in 7 seasons. Shredded his knee, hurt his back and tried to play through both and then took a cheap shot that left him concussed.
Exactly my point. Wentz hasn’t missed nearly as many games as he probably should have. Wentz may have played, but has been listed on the injury report far more times than games he has actually missed. He’s played injured so many times that I am not sure when his last actual healthy game was. He has had good moments to be sure, but many of them seemed counterbalanced by an injury-sourced instance of poor play. It seems unlikely to me that he has been totally healthy the last two seasons.
Because of an injury or because of performance?
This is Rivera’s last year as a head coach.
Heinicke will start because he gives the best chance to win and Riverboat Ron is on the hot seat.
as someone who has terry mclaurin on their fantasy team, this is great news.