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Carson Wentz put up impressive numbers for the Indianapolis Colts last season, but his attitude seemed to rub people the wrong way. And the Colts missed the playoffs. For all those reasons — plus criticism over his leadership style — Wentz was sent packing to the Washington Commanders.
Facing the Philadelphia Eagles twice this year in the NFC East, he’ll have wide receiver Zach Pascal staring him down from the opposite sideline. Pascal and Wentz were teammates for one year in Indianapolis before Pascal, 27, inked a one-year deal with the Eagles last month. As a free agent, Pascal could have attempted to join Wentz in Washington for another season together. Forget it.
“Absolutely not,” Pascal told WAVY-TV in Virginia when asked if he’d considered pursuing a reunion with his former teammate. “Absolutely not. That’s just what it is.”
In the interview, Pascal didn’t elaborate on why Washington didn’t appeal to him in free agency. By all accounts, he got along with Wentz in Indianapolis. The obvious reason would be that Philadelphia has the better team. That, and Pascal’s existing relationship with head coach Nick Sirianni. Either way, the new receiver expressed excitement about playing for the Eagles in front of some of the most passionate football fans on the planet.
“They’re passionate, I say that,” Pascal said. “They’re very passionate about their team, their city, the game. … So wins got to come with it. I know the head coach. I know multiple players on that team. I know the culture in that city. They’re go-getters, so I just feel like it’s a great fit for me, great fit for my family.”
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Pascal Takes Wentz’s Old Jersey Number
Some people were reading into the fact that Pascal chose Wentz’s old No. 11 jersey to wear in Philly. Don’t read too much into that. He couldn’t claim the No. 14 he wore during his four years in Indy because Kenneth Gainwell has it. Ditto for his college No. 6 since DeVonta Smith wears it. And Richard Rodgers owns the No. 81 jersey he donned in high school.
Pascal just didn’t have many options and landed on No. 11, which probably had nothing to do with Wentz. Probably. It should be noted that the former Old Dominion standout will be the first Eagles player to wear No. 11 since Wentz was traded in 2021.
Taking the High Road About Colts’ Struggles
Pascal was asked to explain what happened last year in Indianapolis as the team imploded down the stretch. The Colts went 6-1 in November and December before face-planting in the final two games, finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs.
Wentz was brutal in the regular-season finale, a 26-11 loss to the abysmal Jacksonville Jaguars. Pascal skirted around the reasons for the loss, refusing to throw anyone under the bus.
“I can’t put a finger on what happened,” Pascal told Philly reporters on March 24 at his introductory press conference. “All I can say is we fought hard and we didn’t reach that goal, and so I’m just excited to be in this position, able to help this organization [the Eagles], this team reach this goal.”
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