Jenkins wants to look ahead, not relive 2017
PHILADELPHIA » In a week or so, the Eagles will finally reveal their starting quarterback for the Sept. 6 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
It won’t be Nate Sudfeld, Joe Callahan or Christian Hackenberg, barring injury.
Speculation is raging outside the organization that it won’t be Carson Wentz, either. That would mean that Nick Foles, the Super Bowl MVP, would oppose Matt Ryan and the Falcons, who he beat 15-10 in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs at Lincoln Financial Field. Foles had a 100.1 rating with no touchdowns or interceptions in the contest.
The operative word here is outside speculation. Wentz looks as sharp as ever in practices, including the portion open to the media Monday.
Still, among other speculators, NBC Sports’ Peter King opines that Wentz probably won’t play in the Week 2 game in Tampa against the Buccaneers, either.
Now, a word about King. He hasn’t nailed a big-time Eagles hunch since he had them taking guard Danny Watkins off the board in the first round of the 2011 draft. Watkins didn’t last long. He’s a decorated Frisco, Texas firefighter.
King, however, isn’t a waffler like some of the other so-called national insiders, one of which will remain anonymous. The genius speculated that if the situation with Wentz “continues in the direction that it is very clearly heading, they’re going to have the Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles in as their quarterback.” Now, that’s bold. Eagles head coach Doug Pederson gets steamed each time he’s asked who his starting quarterback will be.
The door, nonetheless, is open for either quarterback to get the nod.
Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh said that Wentz and Foles split the first-team snaps Sunday.
“We’re just trying to get everybody prepared to play in the regular season, whenever they’re available to play,” Groh said. *** Rugby import Jordan Mailata has a shot at making the Eagles. That’s been fairly well documented. He’s also a seventh-round draft pick.
It’s been brought to my attention that undrafted rookie Bruce Hector, the 6-2, 296-pound defensive tackle out of South Florida, is a longshot with a shot.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz sure likes Hector.
“He’s impressed us all along the way,” Schwartz said. “But I think the thing that’s been most impressive is that there’s a lot of guys that look good early and then they level out, or they fade, or they can’t stay healthy, or they plateau and they just don’t improve, but that’s not Bruce. Bruce impressed us early but has steadily improved. And he’s been on the field and he’s healthy enough to be on the field.”
Schwartz liked the way Hector stepped up in competition playing some meaningful reps in the last two preseason games.
“Those are all things you look for,” Schwartz said. “He’s on the right track.”
Hector registered 60 career tackles at USF, 28 for loss, including 18 sacks. Last year he notched 20 tackles for loss, including 7 sacks, for the Birmingham Bowl champs.
*** Villanova linebacker Don Cherry helped the Eagles get that Lombardi Trophy, according to Schwartz.
When the Eagles were preparing to play the Patriots last year, Schwartz said the players were shown a photo of the hardware and told “regardless of what your role was on this team, your fingerprints are going to be on that trophy.”
Active players, scratches, practice squad players and even training camp players, per Schwartz, earned a share of it.
“Even if you don’t make this team, you’ll have your fingerprint on the success of this team going forward,” Schwartz said.
Cherry had a solid offseason and training camp for the Eagles but was released. Linebacker Jordan Hicks said no one worked harder than DC.
Cherry is living the first phase of his next dream in San Diego. It’s a business called Camp Run-A-Mutt.
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The Eagles signed safety Deshawntee Gallon and released wide receiver Anthony Mahoungou.
Gallon (5-10, 203) is an undrafted product of Georgia Southern.