Commanders’ QB Carson Wentz is expected to miss the next four to six weeks due to a fractured ring finger on his right hand.
The injury occurred at some point during Washington’s win over Chicago on Thursday Night Football during Week 6. It was an ugly game, and Wentz suffered additional injuries to his shoulder, biceps, and ankle, but it appears the finger is the most serious of them all.
Wentz will reportedly undergo surgery today, and could end up on IR given the expected recovery time. Finger fractures are particularly limiting to quarterbacks because these injuries often affect how well the player can grip the ball, and how tight of a spiral they can throw.
Recently, Cowboys’ QB Dak Prescott suffered a thumb fracture in his throwing hand. He hasn’t been able to play since Week 1 because it’s disrupting his ability to maintain a grip on the ball. Though Wentz didn’t suffer a thumb fracture, the philosophy remains the same. A more similar injury to look at would be what Russell Wilson dealt with last year in Seattle.
During a Week 5 matchup against the Rams, Wilson suffered a ruptured tendon in what often is referred to as mallet finger, and he also suffered a fracture-dislocation of the joint at the top of his middle finger in his right hand. He missed three weeks after undergoing surgery – returning in Week 10 after Seattle’s Week 9 bye – and didn’t look 100% until Week 12.
The extent of the fracture to Wentz’ finger isn’t yet known, nor is it clear if he suffered any ligament damage. However, undergoing surgery means there is damage that can’t be fixed with a simple splint.
The injury couldn’t come at a worse time for Wentz, who has struggled to find consistency in the league since 2020. He’s been traded twice since then, and his current contract with Washington has no guaranteed money after this season.
His backup, Taylor Heinicke, has experience leading the team after being the starter throughout 2021, and the Commanders drafted QB Sam Howell in the fifth-round of last year’s draft.