Washington HC Ron Rivera: Carson Wentz giving teammates 'confidence' this spring

If nothing else, Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera deserves kudos for pumping up quarterback Carson Wentz to anybody who will listen this spring. 

Wentz earned some not-so-rave reviews regarding his single season with the Indianapolis Colts before Washington traded for his services in March, but the 29-year-old has quickly become a Rivera favorite over the past few months. Rivera remarked in late May that Wentz was doing "a heck of a job" during organized team activities and added at that time that the signal-caller is "a guy that's wanted" by the Commanders. 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Rivera insisted Wentz's new teammates feel similarly. 

"When you listen to him in the huddle, you listen to him talk to his teammates about certain aspects of the play — you know he gets it," Rivera explained, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "And seeing him getting his teammates lined up and communicating is, I think, a real positive for us. I know it gives me confidence. But when he’s in the huddle calling plays the way he does, I know his teammates can feel the confidence." 

Rivera also said he really likes Wentz’s "command of our offense."

According to ESPN stats, Wentz finished the 2021 campaign 13th among eligible quarterbacks with a 94.6 passer rating and ninth with a 54.7 total QBR. He completed 62.4% of his throws and matched 27 touchdowns with seven interceptions, but it was his lackluster performances over the season's final two weeks that caused the Colts to look elsewhere and ultimately land Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons.