Wentz taking the right mindset for opportunity in Washington

ASHBURN, Va. — Carson Wentz understands what’s at stake.

Getting into his third season in as a few years with a brand new franchise, it is not out of line to say that the outlook for the rest of Wentz’s profession rides closely on his 2022 efficiency in Washington. Corridor of Fame passer Troy Aikman has steered so, too. If Wentz performs properly, his long-term future needs to be in D.C. But when he struggles, it is onerous to think about one other franchise handing the keys to Wentz, once more, the way in which Washington has.

Wentz does not really feel that stress of what may very well be a make-or-break season, although, so he says.

“I strive to not put an excessive amount of stress on myself,” Wentz mentioned Wednesday following OTAs. “I at all times have excessive expectations for myself and for the offense, however I do not attempt to play these sorts of video games. I haven’t got sufficient psychological house to sort of course of all that. It might probably put on on you. So for me, I simply present up, attempt to be the very best I may be.”

It has been properly documented that Wentz’s lone season in Indianapolis ended poorly. The Colts have been keen to maneuver on a lot that when Indianapolis despatched Wentz to Washington, the franchise had no fast successor in place. Just a few weeks later, after the Colts acquired Matt Ryan, Indianapolis common supervisor Chris Ballard went on the report to say the Colts would have thought-about transferring on from Wentz after 2021, even when the group did not collapse over the ultimate two weeks of the season and miss the playoffs.

Wentz — who statistically had the second-best season of his profession in 2021 (27 touchdowns, seven interceptions) — is aware of he was removed from excellent with the Colts. The identical goes for throughout his Eagles tenure, which additionally ended on a bitter be aware.

When trying again on these experiences, although, Wentz believes he is realized loads about himself.

“You are at all times attempting to be taught. All the time attempting to be a greater teammate, a greater pal,” Wentz mentioned. “… Be reflective and say, ‘I missed that chance to make an influence on a youthful man’ or be concerned with that teammate, no matter that appears like. I am at all times attempting to be taught and construct pretty much as good of relationships as I can. … I’ll make errors. I will be the primary to confess it. I am at all times attempting to develop, be self-reflective and be a greater individual in each form and type.”

Since arriving in Washington, Wentz has taken the appropriate mindset when it comes to his state of affairs. The 29-year-old made it clear Wednesday that he is taking a day-by-day method and is focusing solely on what he can management.

That change in mindset may be attributed to Wentz’s development as an individual, not simply as a participant. The quarterback is in a distinct place in life than he was only a few years in the past, one thing Wentz feels has impacted his method on the soccer area.

“I am older. My household life is completely different. I’ve acquired two youngsters. Every thing has modified,” Wentz mentioned. “You mature just a little bit, you see the world just a little bit otherwise. Now, that is my third group. All these issues. You see a distinct perspective. It has been enjoyable. However on the identical time, I am an older man within the locker room. … Simply attending to know guys another way, guys from completely different backgrounds, completely different seasons of life. Hopefully as a veteran and a pacesetter within the locker room, I will help deliver them alongside. I am excited for it and it has been loads of enjoyable.”

With the NFL’s strict coronavirus insurance policies not in place, Wentz and his teammates have had the possibility to spend time collectively away from the ability — one thing that wasn’t essentially allowed in each 2020 and 2021. The quarterback has taken benefit of that, as he is had the possibility to “go to dinners, go {golfing}, do all these items to get to know these guys” away from the soccer area.

Though his earlier two stops led to detrimental trend, Wentz has a training workers that believes in him in Washington. All through OTAs, each Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner have praised the group’s new QB at any time when they’ve gotten the possibility. That continued on Wednesday.

“I actually like his command of our offense,” Rivera mentioned following apply. “If you hearken to him within the huddle, you hearken to him discuss to his teammates about sure points of the play. He will get it and seeing him getting his teammates lined up and speaking is I feel an actual optimistic for us. I do know it provides me confidence, however when he’s within the huddle calling the performs the way in which he does, I do know his teammates can really feel the arrogance.”

Because the Commanders third week of on-field work nears an in depth, the group’s total perception in Wentz has unfold from the teaching workers to the gamers as properly. Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, J.D. McKissic, Antonio Gibson and Kendall Fuller are only a few Commanders which have had optimistic issues to say about Wentz when requested about him. 

“He is good, he is clever, he is getting the ball out [and] he can transfer fairly properly within the pocket too,” McKissic mentioned final week. “He is trying like that younger Carson once more.”

In Washington, Wentz is the most recent quarterback the group has acquired with the hopes of turning into a long-term resolution. The Commanders have not had a real franchise quarterback in almost three a long time. It is one of many foremost the explanation why the final Lombardi Trophy within the constructing is from 1991.

With a company like Washington determined for a franchise quarterback, there’s undoubtedly stress on Wentz to carry out. Rivera has already mentioned he feels the group’s new quarterback is able to being the long-term reply. The reward Wentz has acquired all through OTAs proves the top coach is not the one one with that perception, both.

Regardless of all of the optimistic power surrounding Wentz in Ashburn, there’ll nonetheless be loads driving on Wentz’s shoulders come September. The group expects to make a leap in Yr 3 below Rivera, with a playoff look the ground of what may very well be thought-about a profitable season.

But, for Wentz, that stress has not hit him — but.

“I would not say I really feel that within the constructing by any means or at apply or something,” he mentioned. “Pay attention, I might like for nothing greater than to play right here for a very long time and have loads of success, however I’ll take in the future at a time. I am not going to place that further added stress onto myself. [I’m] simply going to get pleasure from it and profit from it.”