Los Angeles Rams to sign QB Carson Wentz as backup to Matthew Stafford

Carson Wentz is headed to the West Coast.

The veteran quarterback will sign with the Los Angeles Rams after passing a physical, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on Tuesday. The source spoke on condition of anonymity, given that the deal was not yet official.

Starter Matthew Stafford suffered a thumb injury in the Week 8 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Wentz is expected to hold the backup role, with the team later on Tuesday releasing backup Brett Rypien and practice-squad quarterback Dresser Winn.

Last Friday, USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis ranked the Rams' backup quarterback situation at No. 30. In Week 9, Rypien stepped in for Stafford and completed 13 of 28 passes for 130 yards with one interception in a 20-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Fourth-round rookie Stetson Bennett, who began the season as Stafford's primary backup, has been on the non-football injury list since Sept. 13.

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Wentz has remained unsigned since the Washington Commanders released him in February. The 30-year-old was selected No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles out of North Dakota State in the 2016 NFL draft. He spent five years in Philadelphia and went to the Pro Bowl in 2017 after helming the Eagles in the regular season prior to tearing his ACL.

In 12 games in 2020, Wentz threw a league-high 15 interceptions and was sacked 50 times. He lost the starting job to then-rookie Jalen Hurts and went to the Indianapolis Colts for a season before being traded to Washington.

In August, he amused fans by working out in gear from all three of his former teams.

The Rams have a bye week before hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 19.