Carson Wentz wasn't expecting to work on Sunday. By the end of the day, he was $100,000 richer.
The Minnesota Vikings were seeing shades of 2025 in Week 1, watching as Wentz rejoined the starting lineup. It came after Kyler Murray suffered a concussion early in the contest, knocking him out for the remainder of the game – and potentially beyond.
Wentz stepped in for the injured Murray, leaving just J.J. McCarthy as the only other healthy quarterback on the roster. The veteran signal-caller delivered when it mattered most to lead the Vikings to a stunning 39-22 win over the rival Green Bay Packers. That included a 22-0 fourth quarter edge for Wentz and co.
Thanks to the structure of Wentz's contract, he also received a $100,000 bonus for the win.
It's an incentive bonus that the quarterback will earn in every game where he plays at least 60% of snaps in his team's win, according to Spotrac.
The $100,000 bonus is capped at six wins.
Each of his next six wins beyond that would be worth $150,000, provided he plays at least 60% of snaps.
It's not a bad start to the season for Wentz, who signed the one-year deal worth $3 million in free agency to return to the Vikings. He won the backup job in training camp, beating McCarthy for the spot after the third-year player struggled in limited preseason action.
Wentz rewarded the Vikings' faith by completing 12-of-19 pass attempts for 133 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback effort.
With Murray's status for Week 2 up in the air, Wentz has proven more than capable of guiding the Vikings through for the time being.
And he has 100,000 reasons to have another good day at the office.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carson Wentz earned $100,000 after replacing Kyler Murray in Vikings win
