Carson Wentz may be tasked with leading the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unfamiliar yet crucial position as star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is listed as “week to week” after suffering an ankle injury during the team’s 21-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

This has thrust attention onto backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who may be tasked with leading the Chiefs through a tough stretch of games.

With the Chiefs sitting at 13-1 and eyeing their third consecutive Super Bowl, the pressure on Wentz is immense.

If Mahomes is sidelined, Wentz will be responsible for guiding Kansas City through three games in just 11 days – against the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos.

This moment presents an opportunity for Wentz to not only re-establish his reputation but also help solidify the Chiefs’ playoff position as the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Is Carson Wentz capable of filling Mahomes’ shoes?

On the Monday edition of “Pro Football Talk,” NFL analyst Chris Simms weighed in on whether Wentz is up for the challenge.

Simms believes the Chiefs are more than capable of surviving without Mahomes if Wentz can manage the game effectively.

“Could they win two of these three games with Carson Wentz and play a style in which we saw them play through the defense, he takes care of the ball and maybe can make a play here or there? They’re certainly capable,” Simms said.

“The Kansas City Chiefs have definitely proven to us that they are more than just Patrick Mahomes.”

Simms cited the Chiefs‘ 2022/23 playoff win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in which backup quarterback Chad Henne stepped in for an injured Mahomes and led a crucial scoring drive that helped Kansas City secure a victory.

At his peak, Carson Wentz was viewed as one of the league’s rising stars. In 2017, Wentz led the Philadelphia Eagles to an 11-2 record before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

At the time of his injury, Wentz was in the MVP conversation, having thrown for 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

While Wentz watched from the sidelines, backup quarterback Nick Foles took over and guided the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory, earning Super Bowl MVP honors in the process.

After his injury, Wentz‘s career took a downturn. The Eagles eventually replaced him with Jalen Hurts, and Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts.

His lone season with the Colts ended in disappointment, as a late-season loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars eliminated Indianapolis from playoff contention.

The following season, Wentz was traded to the Washington Commanders, where he struggled and was eventually benched.

Wentz spent the 2023 and 2024 NFL seasons as a free agent, signing with Kansas City as a backup to Mahomes.