Eagles agree to trade quarterback Wentz to Colts
Veteran won three of 12 starts in 2020 before Philly turned to rookie quarterback.
Carson Wentz has a new home. And the Eagles have parted with their one-time franchise quarterback.
After months of speculation, the Eagles have agreed to trade Wentz to the Colts, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. The person requested anonymity because the deal had not yet been officially announced. ESPN was first to report the deal.
The Eagles will collect a 2021 thirdround draft pick and conditional 2022 second-round pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. If Wentz plays at least 75% of offensive snaps for the Colts, the 2022 selection bumps to Indianapolis’ first-round selection. Philadelphia also could get a first-round selection if Wentz plays 70% of plays and takes the Colts to the playoffs.
Wentz heads to the Colts after a rocky 2020 season in which he won just three of 12 starts before the Eagles turned to rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. In Indianapolis, he reunites with Frank Reich – Wentz’s first pro offensive coordinator, now the Colts’ head coach – for what both sides hope will be a fresh start.
Ball security issues plagued Wentz in 2020. He threw 15 interceptions (just one short of his touchdown mark) and fumbled 10 times, losing four. Wentz was also sacked a league-high 50 times for a loss of 326 yards, an issue that was not helped by rampant injuries across the Eagles’ offensive line.
The Eagles fired head coach Doug Pederson on Jan. 11, three seasons after he won a Super Bowl. Disagreement on personnel issues, including how to handle Wentz and Hurts moving forward, contributed to the rift between Pederson and team owner Jeffrey Lurie. Philadelphia i hired then-Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni on Jan. 24.
The Eagles drafted Wentz with the
second overall selection in 2016. He started 68 games across five seasons, compiling a 35-32-1 record. He completed 62.7% of passes for 16,811 yards, 113 touchdowns and 50 interceptions.
Wentz was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017, when he led the Eagles to an 11-2 start before tearing his ACL in what would become their Super Bowl-winning season. Reich was Wentz’s offensive coordinator that campaign, Wentz throwing 33 TDs to seven interceptions while leading the league in passer rating and touchdown percentage.
Indianapolis has sought a franchise quarterback since the August 2019 sudden retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck at 29. The Colts turned to Jacoby Brissett when Luck walked away and signed veteran Phillip Rivers for 2020. Rivers, who accepted a head coaching job at an Alabama high school, announced his retirement at 39 in January.
Hurts, selected in the second round of the 2020 draft, started four games, completing 77 of 148 pass attempts for 1,061 yards, six TDs and four interceptions. He also displayed athleticism and mobility to the tune of 354 rushing yards and three TDs on 63 carries.