Wentz happy to see Josh McCown’s sort of return
No one appreciates the signing of Josh McCown to the practice squad more than Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. The two QBs bonded quickly, on and off the field last year, and it helped Wentz enjoy one of his best seasons.
McCown, 41, is the thirdoldest player on an NFL payroll this season, even if it was due to the liberal and expanded practice squad rules allowing six veterans to occupy the 16 total spots. Only 43-year-old Tom Brady and Drew Brees, who has six months on McCown, have more age.
With McCown physically training in Texas and joining Wentz and backup quarterbacks Nate Sudfeld and Jalen Hurts by Zoom, it’s going to be a little different than last season.
“I’m very excited about it,” Wentz said Monday. “Having Josh around last year was huge for me but really for this entire building. I think he provided a lot of insight, a lot of energy. He was kind of a mentor to a lot of guys. He was twice the age of some of the guys in this building, so I was giving him a little crap for that. But it’s awesome to have him back. To what level he’s engaged we’ll kind of wait and see as we go.”
Wentz threw 27 touchdowns last season, his most since he set the club record with 33 in just 13 games in 2017. He also aired the ball out for a career high 4,039 passing yards. His already elite interception percentage dropped to 1.2 percent.
McCown’s biggest influence may have occurred late last season.
Wentz rallied the Eagles to an overtime win over the Giants with a scoring pass to Zach Ertz. The following week Wentz beat Washington at the buzzer with a TD pass to Greg Ward.
The Eagles led from start to finish in 17-9 win over the Cowboys and pounded the Giants on the road in the regular season finale to clinch the NFC East title.
“Obviously with the new practice squad rules, being in a pandemic, it just made sense to have a guy that we’re familiar with,” coach Doug Pederson said of McCown. “He knows our team, he knows our system.”
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John Hightower, not the injured Jalen Reagor was the rookie receiver Pederson talked up for the opener. While Reagor is in danger of sitting out the first game with a lower body injury, Hightower has been a full go.
“He’s really earned a spot on our roster,” Pederson said.
Reagor also earned a place at the table although the firstround pick has a better shot at making his NFL debut in Week
2 when the Eagles oppose the Rams at the Linc.
DeSean Jackson, Greg Ward and JJ Arcega-Whiteside were the other guys Pederson spoke about at wide receiver.
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The Eagles claimed running back Jason Huntley off waivers from the Lions based on their pre-draft evaluation. Huntley (5-9, 193) was a fifthround pick released by the Lions.
“He was a play that we had targeted through the draft and the draft process,” Pederson said. “He was on our draft board. He caught our eye back then.”
Last year Huntley rushed for 1,090 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry to go with 11 touchdowns, two on receptions. He returned three kickoffs for scores in 2018, tops in the NCAA.