Megan Turner
Videos by OutKick
Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich said he understands why people question some of Carson Wentz’s decisions as the former signal caller for the Eagles but said he won’t entertain the idea that Wentz is “broken.”
“I just cringe when I hear stuff like that, not that a player shouldn’t be accountable for poor play on the field,” Reich said Monday, per Around the NFL. “Carson has to answer to that, and he has answered to it. And until you get out there and prove otherwise, that’s what you live with. But I just know that playing the position of quarterback, there are so many factors that go into it.”
Reich said that he and Wentz talked about why he played poorly last year and said he’s “very confident” that he now has the right team around him with the Colts.
In February, the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to trade Wentz to the Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick that could turn into a first-round pick if he plays a certain number of reps.
But Reich doesn’t seem to have any doubts in his decision, especially considering their previous history in Philadelphia. Reich was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016-2017. He and Wentz were both with the Eagles when they won Super Bowl LII.
“I think it’s a collaborative effort that we work with Carson,” Reich said. “But yeah, you stick your neck out for players as a head coach or a GM or a scout or coach — we all do it.”
Reich said sometimes head coaches have more of a say in that kind of decision than a position coach may have, but that’s what he loves about it.
“I love sticking my neck out for people I believe in,” he said. “I’m willing to put it on the line for players that you believe in. I believe in this team. I believe in Carson. I feel good about it. I do know that his play will reflect the work that he does, the work that our team does, the work that our staff does, all the preparation. But I don’t mind being the point person on that.”
Get ready for the NFL season by signing up for FanDuel:
New FanDuel Sportsbook users can make their first bet risk-free up to $1,000.
If the bet loses, the FanDuel Sportsbook will refund you in site credit. New users can lock in this offer NOW by clicking this link.
Looking forward to watching Carson in Indy. I hope he succeeds. But he needs to figure out how to stay healthy and gain some consistency. He’s been a china doll.