Wentz, Rivera downplay Commanders QB's shoulder injury

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Carson Wentz and Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera on Tuesday downplayed the starting quarterback’s shoulder injury that showed up on the injury report this week.

Wentz brushed off any concern about his right, throwing shoulder despite the injury report indicating he was a limited participant in practice each of the past two days. Washington plays Thursday night at Chicago looking to snap a four-game losing streak.

“I don’t know when (it occurred), and it feels pretty good,” Wentz said. “It feels pretty good. It was a Monday after a game, so I’m feeling pretty good.”

Rivera said Wentz reported the shoulder was sore Monday morning after the team’s loss to Tennessee on Sunday. He said Wentz took all his snaps in practice Tuesday.

“He was fine,” Rivera said. “I don’t expect it to be a problem.”

Rivera also does not expect a problem to linger from some remarks Monday when he said “quarterback” was the reason the Commanders were not as far ahead in their rebuilding effort as the other teams in the NFC East. He to explain it was because the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants already had their starter in place prior to this season — and told that to players in a team meeting.

“The players have been really positive about it,” Rivera said. “Carson and I had a nice conversation, so I think we’re ready to roll.”

Wentz, who has thrown for 10 touchdowns and six interceptions including a game-ending pick against the Titans, also sounded ready to move past the short-week distraction.

“Coach addressed it and handled it,” Wentz said. “Nothing for me that I’m overly concerned about. Coach is a very straightforward, up-front guy and he addressed it in the team meeting, which I thought was really cool and (clarified) what he meant by it all. I feel very confident in that.”

Rivera and the front office acquired Wentz from Indianapolis in March, a trade that made the 29-year-old unquestionably the Commanders starter.

Rivera has never shown any indication of benching Wentz and on Monday said he had “no regrets” about making the move to get him.

“I think our quarterback has done some good things,” he said. “There was a time he was very solid and we had the unfortunate Philadelphia game and he struggled a little bit in the Dallas game, but the way he performed (Sunday) just shows you what he’s capable of. We chose him because we believe in him. We chose him because we looked at what we felt were things that pointed toward him.”

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