Wentz won’t play in preseason finale

Carson Wentz said his cracked ribs (plural) are healing, but he will not take any chances in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Jets.

PHILADELPHIA >> Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz won’t play in the preseason finale Thursday due to a cracked rib.

And Wentz, not Sam Bradford, who has made a career of rehabbing, is the quarterback who won’t be 100 percent when the regular season begins.

“It’s frustrating, as all injuries are,” Wentz said Monday. “I was obviously hoping to get out there one more time in the preseason. But it kind of is what it is and I’m going to still try and learn as much as I can and get ready for Cleveland.”

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson revealed that Wentz cracked two ribs, not one, in the first half of the preseason opener. That was the last time Wentz participated in team activities.

Pederson said a CT scan revealed “the 10th (rib) is completely healed, the 11th one still shows about 60 percent so there’s still some injury there with him going forward.”

While Pederson said Wentz would “probably not” play Thursday, the rookie conceded the obvious.

“Thursday night, it’s not fully healed so that’s a nogo for this week,” Wentz said. “But I’ll be ready for Week 1. (The rib is) feeling pretty good. I got a good workout in before the game Saturday. It’s a little sore but it’s feeling much better.”

Pederson isn’t overly concerned about the rib issue based on what he’s seen of Wentz’s work ethic. At the same time the snaps Wentz loses in the preseason game can never be made up.

Pederson said starter Sam Bradford and backup Chase Daniel would get the practice snaps going forward.

“The situation where it is right now with Sam and Chase and him obviously going into the season as the third, it doesn’t concern me as much right now,” Pederson said. “But it’s hard in the regular season to replace those types of reps because our focus is with the ones and getting Sam ready to go. So it’s hard to replace them.”

Wentz has several challenges ahead in his development as a quarterback. First and foremost, he has to find a way to avoid or limit the bone-cracking hits that can sideline him.

While Daniel kidded the Eagles could have done a better job picking up the blitz on the play Wentz was hurt, Wentz has to protect himself. It didn’t look like he felt the pass rush on the shot that injured him.

“You’re going to take hits like that,” Daniel said. “It’s part of the game. You’re the filet mignon of the defense, man. All they want to do is eat you. So when you’re back there, you don’t want a quarterback that’s going to just throw and like get out of the way and duck. You want someone who’s going to stand firm there.

“But he’s also got to understand that this ain’t college anymore. This is the NFL. They’re all paid handsomely and they’re all fast and strong and they all want to kill you. It’s hard as a quarterback. You can’t really do much on that, just try to get the ball out fast.”

*** The good injury news is wide receiver Jordan Matthews practiced Monday for the first time in four weeks, the knee injured on a hit by rookie Jalen Mills healthy enough for individual, group and 7-on-7 practice.

“He’s on track, doing a great job in his recovery and should be ready to go next week,” Pederson said.

Rookie guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral muscle) is day-to-day and expected to be back in practice next week.

Defensive end Vinny Curry (knee) and defensive tackle Taylor Hart (knee, ankle) are expected “next week for Cleveland,” Pederson said.

*** With rookie running back Wendell Smallwood in the concussion protocol, the Eagles re-signed running back Cedric O’Neal, who they cut a week ago.

“I was still working out and being active,” said O’Neal, who went home to Georgia. “And they called me last night and told me they wanted me back up so I got on the first flight this morning and came back up. When you get released you don’t know what your next move is going to be. For the team you started with to call you back, it’s a good opportunity. I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve gotten and I want to take full advantage of it.”

*** The Eagles reached an injury settlement with cornerback Aaron Grymes, who hurt his shoulder after making an interception in Pittsburgh.

MICHAEL PEREZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Carson Wentz is still recovering from two cracked ribs, and will not play in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Jets.