Foles, Sudfeld say they have ‘juice’ for life without Wentz
PHILADELPHIA » Barely out of surgery to repair a torn ACL, Carson Wentz was crawling in his own skin.
Post-operative football withdrawal surging through him, he stopped everything to FaceTime fellow Eagles quarterbacks Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld, who carry on in the wake of his MVP-type effort sparking the team to an 11-2 record and the NFC East pennant.
Wentz just had to know something about the game plan — while he was ordering a double-stacker something burger.
“The surgery went well from what I heard and what he said,” Sudfeld said Thursday. “He was feeling pretty loopy after the anesthesia. He was ordering a burger and talking and trying to figure out the new plays. The first question was, ‘So what’s this new play I saw in the emails?’ I was like, ‘Sure you want to know right now?’ It was pretty funny. It was pretty quick after surgery. Do you expect anything less from Carson?”
It’s safe to say Wentz doesn’t expect anything less from Sudfeld or Foles, the latter of whom will start Sunday when the Eagles attempt to clinch a bye and a home game in the first round of the playoffs. A victory over the Giants (2-11), who are transitioning into rebuild mode, will get the job done for the Birds.
While there is unquestionable confidence in Foles, who owns a 2016 record as a starter in this, his sixth year in the league, not much is known about Sudfeld other than he physically looks like Foles’ twin.
The resemblance is so striking when they’re in uniform that Sudfeld actually signed Foles’ name for an autograph seeker who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Sudfeld feared saying no would brand Foles as aloof.
That speaks to the tight-knit fraternity in the building.
Besides the actual quarterbacks, head coach Doug Pederson, offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach John Filippo all played the position.
In the sanctity of the quarterback room, the actual place its members refer to as “a closet,” they share rituals that only QBs can relate to, much less consider funny.
The quarterback room is their “center of juice.
“Whenever Frank comes in in the morning, and he’s talking about some protection things or plays coming in, we make sure he comes in with a lot of juice,” Sudfeld said. “He’ll open the door and be like ‘Where’s the juice!’ He’ll raise his voice and it will get pretty funny. If he ever comes in kind of quiet or tired, we send him right back out and tell him to come back in and bring the juice.’”
This obviously is no time for the Eagles to move on from their center of juice, or whatever they want to call the quarterbacks room. Not the way it’s worked. Several Eagles veterans who have played against Foles have no doubt he’ll protect the ball, move the sticks and do whatever it takes to give them a chance to win.
Sudfeld, on the other hand, will play his first NFL snap the next time he gets an actual snap. The 2016 sixth-round pick out of Indiana insists he’s ready to step up in a league where the injury rate feels like it’s 100 percent.
“I wasn’t just sitting back and just watching practice all year just expecting to never play football,” Sudfeld said. “I was definitely getting ready in case something like this happened because that’s my responsibility as a No. 3, is to be ready to be a 2, because you’re one play away. So, I definitely feel prepared. Being here 14 weeks has really helped. But I treated each week like I was going to play so I feel very confident.”
Wentz started straight games for 29 the Eagles — an eternity considering the turnover at the position since the healthier days of Donovan McNabb. Wentz stayed healthy longer than any Eagle since McNabb started 31 straight games in 2003-04.
Foles has an injury history of his own. The year after he threw 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions, he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone halfway through the season.
Traded to the St. Louis Rams, Foles was benched after a 4-7 start. His last start was last year with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The experience of Foles has made him a strong resource for Wentz and Sudfeld, a detail-oriented pro who impressed the Eagles enough that they promoted him from their practice squad when the Cleveland Browns tried to poach him.
Eagles receivers say Sudfeld throws a smooth, not too tight spiral. It’s much more catchable than the tight spiral that sneaks up on receivers. Teammates estimate he can send the ball close to 70 yards. That won’t be necessary if Foles stays healthy. If something does happen, well, it’s also safe to say his quarterback teammates think he can bring the juice.
“Nate’s a tremendous player,” Foles said. “I’m excited about his future. Really smart, works his butt off. He’s got all the tools to be a great player in this league.”