WENTZ OPTIMISTIC ABOUT STARTING OPENER
Teammates happy to see veteran QB make early return from foot surgery
Carson Wentz had foot surgery three weeks ago. He was supposed to be out anywhere from five to 12 weeks.
But who showed up at the Indianapolis Colts' practice on Monday? Right, Wentz. Three weeks later.
He didn't partake in any team reps. But the sixth-year quarterback did everything else, taking first reps in individual throwing drills — and impressing everyone around him.
“He looked good today. You see him?” Colts receiver Zach Pascal asked reporters later.
It was back at one of the Colts' earliest sessions of training camp — on July 29 — when Wentz injured his left foot. A fragment of his metatarsal bone broke off, the consummation of an injury that, unbeknownst to Wentz, originally occurred as long ago as high school.
Colts doctors and trainers had a choice of helping Wentz manage the injury and pain as best as they could through the 2021 season — or just go ahead and excise the bone fragment immediately.
They chose the latter course. Smart move. A bubbly Wentz addressed reporters following Monday's practice, and all sounds pretty good at this point of his surprisingly fast recovery.
“I talked with the trainers over the weekend. This was kind of the next in the progression of the rehab,” the 28-year-old said. “It was a lot of fun. Obviously, I didn't take any team reps. There's still stuff that we have to work through, which is part of the plan. You might not see me out here every single day. There's some rest built in . ... I feel pretty good. A lot of it is just continuing to try to introduce some new stimuli and see how it reacts . ... But it feels pretty good, and I'm in a pretty confident spot with it.”
Wentz is in his first season in Indy, after five in Philly. It seemed the longer he was with the Eagles, the more he got hurt, the more big games he missed (including the entirety of Philly's late-season run to the Super Bowl championship in 2017), the more the team's overall talent dropped, and the more his confidence eroded.
Wentz finally was benched last December for raw rookie Jalen Hurts. He asked for a trade and got it, to Indy — suddenly left with a big hole at QB when Philip Rivers opted to retire.
Does Wentz think he can start for the Colts in Indy's regular-season opener at home on Sept. 12 versus Seattle?
“I'm optimistic, but we'll see,” he said. “Honestly, it's not fully my call. It's going to come down to the doctors, trainers and surgeons and seeing how we feel. And a lot will depend on how I respond and how the foot feels, day after day, after being out here.”
But can he muster enough confidence in himself, in his new offence, surrounded by new teammates, under new coaches, in a new locale, over just the next 2½ weeks?
“It's going to have to be (the case),” he said. “It's the hand that I've been dealt. Unfortunately, I've been here before, with limited reps and had to go play.
... It wasn't one of those injuries where you go and rehab while you're away for a while. I've been involved with all the meetings and things, except for one day.”
CAM'S COVID CARELESSNESS?
Cam Newton, who contracted the coronavirus last season, is barred from New England Patriots facilities until Thursday. That's because, per the club's news release, on Saturday the quarterback “travelled to a club-approved medical appointment that required him to leave the New England area. He received daily COVID tests, which were all negative. Due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities, and as required by the NFL-NFLPA protocols, Newton will be subject to the five-day entry cadence process before returning to the facility.”
The ban includes no in-person contact with any teammates or team personnel. The release seemed to be worded carefully so as not to appoint blame for the gaffe — either on Newton himself or someone from the club.
But someone misinterpreted the protocol.
Imagine being that someone and having to look Bill Belichick in the eye upon informing him of the oversight that will keep the team's ostensible starting QB out for nearly a week late in training camp?
The thing is, as the NFL Network reported, only unvaccinated players are subject to the five-day re-entry delay after leaving a team's region. Perhaps Newton feels he's immune from catching COVID-19 again. And maybe he is.
The Patriots' final pre-season game is Sunday at the New York Giants.
EXTRA POINTS
Cleveland parked PK Cody Parkey on IR with a quad injury ... Baltimore PK Justin Tucker, on what he focuses on during training camp: “As simply as I can put it, it's see the ball, kick the ball, make the kicks.” Who knew? ... Kansas City G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of Montreal isn't yet back to practising due to a hand injury, but he “continues to improve,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said ... Minnesota re-signed veteran free agent pass rusher Everson Griffen.