Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Wentz not on field but still progressing
PHILADELPHIA » The noise was a few feet from the media tent and Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.
The chants of “MVP, MVP, MVP, MVP” were so loud Friday that Pederson paused to see what was going on. Nick Foles, the Super Bowl LII MVP, was surrounded by a crowd of autograph seekers.
Moments later Pederson was taking questions about his near-regular season MVP whose rehab from knee surgery is rolling as smoothly as a flat tire.
Carson Wentz did little more than show up to practice Friday. The Eagles worked extensively in the 11-on-11 format he’s banned from until further notice. It was the fifth straight practice he’s been limited after a solid 11on-11 participation Saturday.
Afterward Pederson denied Wentz has had a setback in the recovery from knee surgery, even though the player is doing less and less as camp goes on, not more and more like your traditional rehab.
“What you see out here is considered backwards,” Pederson said, emphasis on you, after practice. “What we see in the building and what he does with our strength and conditioning staff is still progressive. It doesn’t have to be every snap, every football situation for him to go forward. What you see out here is only one small sort of tidbit of what he’s doing collectively inside this building, too.”
Pederson didn’t address a question about the swelling Wentz is working through, or much else. Later he spoke cryptically about the bridge Wentz would have to cross, and how the player wasn’t there yet. Coaches corner: What impresses Doug Pederson most about defensive end Michael Bennett is his physical play and, what’s this, flamboyance? Pederson appreciated Bennett getting after tight end Richard Rodgers, which proved contagious for the defense. “At the same time, he’s sort of flamboyant,” Pederson said of Bennett. “He’s outgoing. He’s loose and he plays that way, and that’s what you’ve got to have. I talk about allowing these guys to let their personalities show. You want these guys to be able to have fun doing what they do.” Players corner: Darren Sproles dropped back to return kickoffs … Defensive end Michael Bennett moved inside to tackle … Undrafted rookie Chandon Sullivan intercepted Nate Sudfeld, adding to a solid camp … Receiver Bryce Treggs made
Wentz threw on the side a little while Foles ran the firstteam offense in the 11-on11 drills. Wentz didn’t even wear his helmet, preferring to go with a ballcap at the hot, humid NovaCare Complex. He looked anything but happy, and who could blame him? The practice was an absolute waste of time for him.
“He started what, 13 games for us last year?” Pederson said. “I’m sure he feels a little disappointed. But listen that’s part of the plan. I remember when I hurt my back in 2004. It sucks. You’re not out there with your team. I get it. I understand. I’ve been through it. I know what he’s going through. But he’s working every single day to get himself back on the field.”
Wentz wasn’t made available for comment. He’d like to work — and some teammates think he’s healthy enough if allowed — but has deferred to the medical staff, the coaches and Howie Roseman, the latter of whom also is part of the collaborative process, according to Pederson. a couple of solid catches in his second day of camp … Nothing special from second-round draft pick Dallas Goedert, who got the first-team snaps with Zach Ertz taking the day off. Quotable: “I like them both equal,” Bennett responding to locker room neighbor Chris Long’s question of which coach he likes more, Doug Pederson or Pete Carroll? Play of the day: Unquestionably it was Jake Elliott’s 45-yard field goal with the rest of the day off for his teammates on the line. The players almost carried him off the field on their shoulders. Concern of the day: Rodgers sat out practice after injuring his right shoulder … Wide receiver Shelton Gibson has been in concussion protocol since Sunday … Rookie pass rusher Josh Sweat (knee) sat out practice.
— Bob Grotz
“We have benchmarks,” Pederson said. “I’m not getting into the benchmarks but we have benchmarks. We have milestones. We have goals. We have whatever you want to call it down the road. We need to get to Point X, and then another Point X. But that’s the plan.”
Pederson also conceded there is a fear of Wentz hurting himself in what can be the chaos of 11-on-11s, with 22 players on the field.
“Right now, is not the time to risk that,” Pederson said. “Again, it’s all part of our plan, part of his progression. And he’s doing an outstanding job. Carson’s out here working his tail off every single day. He’s throwing individual routes. There is going to come a time when we game plan, and we’re gameplan specific, and he gets a chance to be in there. Then we work. But right now, 7-on-7 and the things that we’re doing with the starters and Carson and all that, is preparing him for that day we cross that bridge.”
*** Unhappy with the deliberate and unnecessarily rough fashion defensive back De’Vante Bausby was disengaging after a play in 11-on-11s, wide receiver Anthony Mahoungou showed him how it’s done in Paris.
Mahoungou, the Frenchman, shoved the shorter Bausby out of the way and then invaded his space. The players were separated by teammates before any punches were thrown.
Bausby is a super-aggressive slot corner. Mahoungou (6-3, 210) has had his moments catching the ball. The Purdue product will have a future in this game.
*** The Eagles’ open practice is Sunday night at 7 at Lincoln Financial Field.
There’s no charge for parking but you need a “free” ticket to get in, and there are none available at ticket outlets.
Nonetheless the Eagles have the ability to admit fans who don’t have those “free” passes, if there’s still room at the Linc.
In other words, don’t be so quick to buy the free tickets from scalpers. They could be counterfeit anyway.
If the tickets used number is down, you still could get in. There could be a few tense moments, however.