Carson Wentz will start for Rams against 49ers on Sunday
The former Eagles quarterback will make his first start in a little over a calendar year when he takes the field.
Carson Wentz will start this Sunday for the Los Angeles Rams in their regular-season finale at San Francisco, Rams coach Sean McVay confirmed to reporters.
Having already clinched a playoff berth as the projected No. 6 seed, the Rams will rest their starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, giving the former Eagles first-round pick his first start since joining the Rams on Nov. 7.
Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick by the Eagles in the 2016 NFL draft, played five seasons in Philadelphia. At his peak, he was the driving force behind the Eagles’ run to their first Super Bowl title in 2017 before suffering an injury and being replaced by Nick Foles, who captured Super Bowl MVP honors.
Following a rash of injuries and poor performance, Wentz was traded to Indianapolis in 2021 and joined former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich as the assumed Colts starter.
He played just one season in Indianapolis before being traded to Washington in 2022. Wentz appeared in just eight games, in which he threw 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a Commanders team that finished 8-8-1.
House of Dolphins’ Hill burns
Firefighters were battling a blaze at the home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill on Wednesday afternoon.
The house, which is located in Southwest Ranches in South Florida, was shown on local station WSVN 7 News with a large amount of smoke coming out of the roof as firefighters doused it with water.
Hill had been at Dolphins practice as Miami prepares for its regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, but he left after being told about the fire.
Chiefs to sit Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes will sit out the Kansas City Chiefs’ regular-season finale against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles with their eighth straight AFC West title secured and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs already locked up.
The Chiefs can do no better or worse in their postseason positioning after last week’s win over Cincinnati clinched the division, so coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mahomes would get a week of rest.
Veteran backup Blaine Gabbert will start and second-year pro Chris Oladokun, who has spent the season on the practice squad, will be the primary backup.
Jets’ Wilson out for finale
Zach Wilson is done for the season — and perhaps so is his time with the New York Jets.
Coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday that Wilson remains in the concussion protocol and has already been ruled out for the team’s season finale at New England on Sunday.
It could also mark the end of Wilson’s tenure in New York after a disappointing three seasons during which he never lived up to lofty expectations as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Browns’ Flacco to rest
Joe Flacco will sit out the regular-season finale at Cincinnati — along with some other regulars — to rest for the playoffs and Cleveland will go with Jeff Driskel, a franchise-record fifth quarterback to start for the team this season.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns have earned the right to rest players after clinching a wild-card berth.
He intends to sit some prominent starters on Sunday when the Browns (11-5) play what has become a mostly meaningless game against the Bengals (8-8), who already have been eliminated from postseason contention.
Arizona tackle tore ACL in Eagles game
Arizona Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries has a torn ACL in his left knee, ending his season with one game remaining.
Coach Jonathan Gannon made the announcement on Wednesday and said the 2021 Pro Bowl selection will be placed on injured reserve. Humphries was hurt on Sunday in the Cardinals’ 35-31 come-from-behind win over the Eagles.