Commanders' Rivera takes 'mea culpa' for QB comments

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera acknowledged Tuesday that the viral comments he made about his quarterback situation were a distraction for his team.

Rivera was asked Monday why the Commanders are in the NFC East's basement after five weeks, and he responded, "Quarterback."

The 60-year-old coach clarified that he meant the other NFC East quarterbacks have more familiarity with their clubs than Carson Wentz, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

"I actually talked to Carson this morning. In fact, I talked to the whole team," Rivera said Tuesday. "I had a mea culpa moment. … I should know better. I created a little bit of a distraction, and that's one thing that I try not to do, and it's one thing that I'm very aware of.

"Again, it's one of those things that when you misstep, people can't wait to dive onto it and jump onto it and hold onto it without an opportunity to explain yourself."

Wentz, who's in his first year under center in Washington, said he's on good terms with Rivera.

"Coach addressed it, handled it. Nothing for me that I'm overly concerned about," Wentz said, according to John Keim of ESPN. "Coach is very straightforward, up-front guy. He addressed it in a team meeting, which I thought was really cool and what he meant by all of it. I feel very confident."

Wentz has passed for 1,390 yards and 10 touchdowns against six interceptions this season, including an end-zone pick in the dying seconds of Sunday's 21-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He's been sacked 20 times, the third-most in the NFL.

The 1-4 Commanders, who've lost four straight, acquired Wentz in an offseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts.

The 5-0 Philadelphia Eagles top the NFC East with a one-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, who've posted 4-1 records. This is just the fourth time since 2002 that any division has had three different teams with at least four wins through Week 5.

Here's how Wentz's numbers stack up against the other NFC East quarterbacks so far:

*Rush, who's been replacing an injured Dak Prescott, didn't start Week 1 for Dallas.