EXTRA POINTS
Back in time
Before the Bears coveted quarterback Mitch Trubisky, it was
Carson Wentz who held their heart’s desire. The North Dakota State product was their No. 1 quarterback in 2016. ‘‘ Very high opinion of him,” offensive coordinator Dowell
Loggains said. “[ He’s a] big guy, athletic, accurate, stands in the pocket. [ He’s] not fazed by what’s going on around him.’’
Wentz also is an example of why trading up to select a potential franchise- changing quarterback is absolutely worth the price.
To select Wentz second overall, the Eagles sent the Browns their eighth overall pick, third- and fourth- round picks, a firstround pick in 2017 and a second- rounder in 2018. The Browns sent back a fourth- rounder in 2016.
As it turned out, the Browns used those picks from the Eagles in five other trades. According to ESPN, here’s what the Browns added as a result of the Wentz trade: Wide receiver Corey Coleman ( No. 15, 2016) Offensive tackle Shon Coleman ( No. 76, 2016) Quarterback Cody Kessler ( No. 93, 2016) Wide receiver Ricardo Louis ( No. 114, 2016) Safety Derrick Kindred ( No. 129, 2016) Wide receiver Jordan Payton ( No. 154, 2016) Offensive lineman Spencer Drango ( No. 168, 2016) Safety Jabrill Peppers ( No. 25, 2017) Quarterback DeShone Kizer ( No. 52, 2017) The Texans’ first- round pick in 2018 The Eagles’ second- round pick in 2018 Over time, the Browns might win the Wentz trade, but that might require turning the first- rounder they received from the Texans into a franchise quarterback.
Right now, the Browns should be haunted by their decision to pass on Wentz. In 10 games, Wentz has thrown for 2,430 yards and a league- best 25 touchdowns and has only five interceptions. He’s in charge of the NFL’s best offense, and the Eagles are 9- 1.
Local success story
More attention than usual should be paid to the kicking game Sunday because the Bears switched to Cairo Santos after Connor Barth’s failures, but also because Eagles kicker
Jake Elliott is a Chicago- area native whom the Bears passed on.
Elliott, a rookie who attended Lyons Township, became a cult hero in Philadelphia after making a 61- yard game- winning field goal to beat the Giants in Week 3. It was his second career game. The Eagles signed Elliott off the Bengals’ practice squad on Sept. 12. The Bengals selected Elliott in the fifth round after a record- setting career at Memphis.
The Bears coached against Elliott ( 5- 9, 170 pounds) in the Senior Bowl, but they also had extra access to him. He also took part in the Bears’ local pro day.
Elliott missed most of the Eagles’ 37- 9 victory against the Cowboys last week because of a concussion, but he’s cleared for the game against the Bears. He’s 17- for- 21 on field goals.
“He’s got a lot of pop in his leg for a guy who’s not the tallest player,” Bears special- teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers said. “He’s got good rise on the ball. His kickoffs have been good directionally. That wasn’t something that showed up on tape a bunch in college, so you work through guys. Maybe it’s not something they’re asking him to do. [ But] he’s another guy with a full toolbox of things he can do. He was a guy we looked at, and he’s done well since he’s been in Philly.”