Eagles rookie quarterback and #2 overall draft pick Carson Wentz will miss most of the preseason after suffering a hairline rib fracture, the team announced today.
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The rib injury for Carson Wentz was worse than originally believed.
Wentz felt discomfort and soreness early in practice on Saturday.
Wentz was injured in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ preseason opener against Tampa Bay on Thursday night when he took a hit from a blitzing Buccaneers defender as he threw a pass with about five minutes remaining. Wentz was a limited practice participant in the morning; the fracture was found later. Head coach Doug Pederson assured the media that he sat Wentz as a precaution.
“We do not know an exact timetable for his return”, Pederson said in the statement, “but we hope to have him back before the end of the preseason”.
Afterward, Wentz said he got the wind knocked out of him. Philadelphia traded up to get Wentz, though the team has claimed it doesn’t plan for him to be on the active game day roster this season-leaving backup duties to Chase Daniel. He was under pressure for a lot of his appearance, but went 12-for-24 passing with 89 yards and one interception in the red zone. A hairline fracture isn’t the kind of injury that should spark panic in Philadelphia, but it should make fans uneasy when they consider the protection around Wentz.
The injury occurred late in the game.
The Eagles have road preseason games at Pittsburgh on Thursday night and at Indianapolis on August 27 before returning home in the September 1 preseason finale against the New York Jets.
Pederson told reporters prior to the injury announcement that Wentz was hit hard on the right side on the next-to-last play of the game.
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He led North Dakota State to its fifth consecutive FCS title last season. “He’ll get treatment on it and he’ll be back out tomorrow”.
