For the first time in more than half a decade, quarterback Carson Wentz will return to his incumbent team next season.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Thursday the Minnesota Vikings re-signed Wentz. The veteran quarterback entered last season as Minnesota’s backup quarterback. He led the team to a 2-3 mark in five starts.
The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Wentz at No. 2 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Wentz became an All-Pro during his second season, which concluded with an Eagles Super Bowl title.
But Wentz missed the end of that campaign because of an injury and never recaptured his magic from that season. Since leaving the Eagles after the 2020 campaign, Wentz has become a journeyman backup.
From 2021-25, he made stops with five different teams, including with the Washington Commanders in 2022. He led the team to a 2-5 record while serving as the team’s starter early in the season.
Wentz completed 62.3% of his passes while averaging 6.4 yards per attempt. He also had 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions with Washington as well.
Former Commanders QB Returns to Vikings
In 2022, Washington hoped Wentz could rebound from a really poor finish with the Indianapolis Colts during 2021. Wentz led the Colts to a 9-8 record in 2021, but Indianapolis suffered an embarrassing blowout loss to the 3-14 Jacksonville Jaguars to miss the postseason.
Wentz threw four touchdowns in a victory over the same Jaguars during his Commanders debut in 2022. But then the team went on a four-game losing streak before Wentz then suffered an injury during Week 6.
The quarterback missed the next eight games with a fractured his right ring finger.
Wentz returned toward the end of the season. He made his last Commanders start in Week 17, which was also a loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Since leaving the Commanders, Wentz has started at least one game each season. But he’s been a backup and started as an injury replacement.
Wentz has bounced around to the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs and Vikings the past three years. In 2026, he will be back with his incumbent team for the first time since 2019-20.
Last season with the Vikings, Wentz started five games for an injured J.J. McCarthy. Wentz led Minnesota to a 2-3 record with a 65.1% completion percentage. He also had six touchdowns and five interceptions while averaging 7.2 yards per pass.
Wentz Could Face Commanders During 2026 Season
The Vikings will have three former top 10 quarterbacks on their roster next season. That is, unless they trade J.J. McCarthy before September.
Before re-signing Wentz, Minnesota also signed former No. 1 pick Kyler Murray.
It’s not clear what backup role Wentz will have with the Vikings in 2026. It’s possible he could be the No. 3 quarterback.
But Wentz’s Vikings will see the Commanders during 2026. The Commanders drew Minnesota on their road schedule for next season.
Wentz owns a 5-3 record with a 99.3 passer rating in eight games against Washington in his career. Those contests, though, occurred early in the quarterback’s career when he was with the Eagles.
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