When Indianapolis traded for Philly QB Carson Wentz the odds looked like a gamble from the get-go, and already the master plan is already starting to fall apart.
The Colts appeared to be passing over multiple picks for a signal caller who was mentally broken by a disastrous 2020 season in the City of Brotherly Shove. Now he appears to be physically broken too.
Wentz booked for foot surgery
Just a day after saying he would rest his injured foot in the hope of being ready for the season opener vs Seattle on 12/9, the team announced he would instead have surgery and be out between 5 and 12 weeks.
If that time frame – the parameters of it anyway – seem pretty crazy, it’s because they are. Indy admits it does not know which end of the spectrum Wentz will arrive at. This is an old injury which means a broken bone has come loose in his foot.
So we have a scenario where Wentz could be back right around Week 1, or not until mid-season. How can you plan for that?
Add to that the fact the Colts have no tried and trusted options at backup QB, and you should be even more worried if you bet them to with the AFC South (or more). Just recent draft picks Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger.
The team also got further back reports Tuesday, with the news All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson has the SAME injury as Wentz – he too will undergo surgery with that same rehab time frame of 5-12 weeks. Crazy.
Will Indy trade for Nick Foles?
The likely scenario now is that Indy goes out into the market and trades for a veteran backup, likely Chicago’s Nick Foles. He won a Super Bowl in Philly with now Colts head coach Frank Reich.
Before all of this chaos, Indy had been a slight favorite to win the South – now, not so much. Tennessee now trades as leader on the divisional money line at -119 with Resorts (bet $119 to win $100). The Colts meanwhile, are now out to +180 with DraftKings (bet $100 to win $180).
Wentz had also been prominent in the betting to be the NFL Comeback Player Of The Year in 2021 at +800. He’s now all the way out at +2500.