Yahoo Sports Chiefs QB depth chart: What to know about Patrick Mahomes' backup, Carson Wentz
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC over the final three weeks of the NFL season. However, they may have to pursue that goal without Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes suffered an ankle injury in the Chiefs' 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. He was rolled up on by Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson while attempting a fourth-and-3 pass, and the veteran quarterback struggled to get off the field after the hit.
Mahomes was able to hobble to the bench under his own power and eventually had his right ankle heavily taped. He didn't play the final five minutes of the game, which raised questions about his availability moving forward, especially since the Chiefs are playing three games in an 11-day span.
If Mahomes has to miss any time because of his ankle injury, the team will have to turn to his backup quarterback to lead the squad. That isn't Chad Henne or Blaine Gabbert any longer. Instead, it's Carson Wentz.
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Who is the Chiefs backup QB behind Patrick Mahomes?
Carson Wentz is the Chiefs' backup quarterback for the 2024 NFL season. The former Philadelphia Eagles star signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs during the offseason to take on that role after playing behind Matthew Stafford with the Los Angeles Rams in the second half of the 2023 NFL season.
Since being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Wentz has played for five different teams. He enjoyed a lot of success early in his career, with his performance in 2017 sticking out as the best. He finished third in the MVP voting that season and threw for 33 touchdowns in just 13 starts before tearing his ACL. The Eagles would go on to win the Super Bowl under the guidance of backup quarterback Nick Foles.
Wentz was solid in the ensuing seasons but began declining significantly in 2020. In 12 starts that season, he led the Eagles to a 3-8-1 record and threw a league-leading 15 interceptions. He was then benched in favor of Jalen Hurts.
Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts during the 2021 offseason, which began his five teams in five years odyssey around the NFL. Now, the soon-to-be 32-year-old finds himself playing a potentially critical role for the Chiefs, pending the severity of Mahomes' injury.
Wentz has a 47-45-1 record in 93 career starts and has completed 62.7% of his passes for 22,312 yards, 153 touchdowns and 67 interceptions. Few backup quarterbacks come with his wealth of experience, which could benefit Kansas City as Mahomes navigates his late-season ankle injury.
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Chiefs QB depth chart
The Chiefs have just two quarterbacks – Mahomes and Wentz – on their 53-man roster. They have a third in their organization on the practice squad.
Below is a look at the team's quarterback depth chart:
Patrick Mahomes
Carson Wentz
Oladokun, 27, is in his third year with the Chiefs. He was a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers but signed to Kansas City's practice squad after his release. The South Dakota State product has only ever played in the preseason, but he would be expected to back up Wentz if Mahomes needs to miss any time.
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Best free agent QBs available
If the Chiefs aren't comfortable with the possibility of Oladokun being pushed into the backup role, they could add another veteran to the practice squad to provide extra depth behind Mahomes and Wentz.
A handful of proven quarterbacks are available that may jump at a chance to fight for a Super Bowl ring. Here are some of the most notable free agents available:
Ryan Tannehill
Blaine Gabbert
A.J. McCarron
Matt Barkley
Tannehill has the most starting experience, while Gabbert, having served as Mahomes' backup in 2023, would have the most experience in Kansas City's system. That could make him the natural fit if the Chiefs add depth at quarterback over the final few weeks of the season with their starter banged up.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chiefs QB depth chart: Who is Patrick Mahomes' backup?
