But now the Eagles rookie quarterback will be packed in mothballs and stored away until next summer.
Advertisement
As it turns out, Pederson was hinting at what the Eagles already definitely knew: Wentz will not be playing on Thursday. Obviously, I missed the couple preseason games.
It doesn’t sound like the team plans to play Matthews in the preseason finale and rookie quarterback Carson Wentz will also sit out the game. At the same time the snaps Wentz loses in the preseason game can never be made up. The other is 60 percent.
“If he’s 60 percent with that rib, he probably (won’t play against the Jets)”, Pederson said.
Wentz ruled himself out while talking to Eagles reporters in the locker room on Monday. “I played a lot of “man” in college; I think they like my “man” skills”.
Ready to be inactive, that is.
The rookie won’t rejoin the team until they’re in regular season mode, strictly working on getting Sam Bradford and the starters ready week by week.
Everyone, from the Eagles coaches to writers and fans, wanted to see Wentz play in the final preseason game, which is nearly always an uneventful affair. “But I still feel I’m prepared”.
“You’re really just trying to be locked in like you were the guy in the game”, he said.
It’s ironic that the health of Bradford has been an issue since he entered the league in 2010 as the first overall pick.
“It’s going to be a long career”, said Wentz, a Bismarck Century High School graduate. “Practicing today, I’m excited for that too”. So a possibility remains, however slim, that Wentz might be able to see some action in the light of Monday’s conflicting reports. Maybe Wentz, the quarterback the Eagles drafted second overall, wanted a familiar face to hang around with during OTAs, or something. And what exactly does that mean?
“It’s frustrating to not get those reps in game situations”, Wentz said. “You’re not the one out there making the plays, making the throws”. How would I read this? National Football League teams typically have just two quarterbacks in uniform for games. I’ve been pretty successful with learning from that. And of course DGB will get some more reps.
As for how far this might set him back, Pederson pointed to some of the positives he has seen from his rookie. “I’m still going to try to learn as much as I can and get ready for (the season-opener against) Cleveland”.
Interestingly, linebacker Mychal Kendricks will, too. “That’s the bottom line”.
“I’ll be ready to go”, he said.
Advertisement
Smith and Wentz watched the end of the Bison’s 24-17 season opener over Charleston Southern together, after the Eagles played Saturday. You want someone who’s going to stand firm there.
