QBs Foles, Peterman, Darnold to start
Three decisions on NFL starting quarterbacks were announced Monday. Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles got the nod from the Eagles, Nathan Peterman will start for Buffalo as a temporary fill-in, and 21-year-old Sam Darnold will become the youngest quarterback to start in Week 1 since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.
Foles will be under center when the defending champion Eagles host Atlanta on Thursday night. Head coach Doug Pederson made the announcement one day after a testy exchange with reporters in which he insisted he wanted to wait before ruling out Carson Wentz.
Wentz hasn’t been medically cleared for contact as he comes back from surgery in December to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee. Foles was spectacular in the playoffs and helped Philadel- phia defeat New England 41-33 to win the franchise’s first NFL title since 1960.
Peterman, a second-year man, is expected to hold the Buffalo job until first-round pick Josh Allen is deemed ready.
Peterman put up the best passing numbers during the preseason, 33-for-41 for 432 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in two preseason games last month.
He was involved in a threeway quarterback competition that was cut to two Saturday when free-agent addition AJ McCarron was traded to the Raiders.
In picking Darnold, Jets head coach Todd Bowles finally revealed the big decision that everyone expected. The rookie from USC was solid while starting the Jets’ second and third preseason games. New York traded Teddy Bridgewater to New Orleans last week, and Darnold then sat out the presea-- finale at Philadelphia — clear signals that the No. 3 overall draft pick would be under center against the Lions.
Darnold will not be the youngest quarterback to start in NFL history, though. That’s still Tommy Maddox, who was 19 days younger than Darnold when he started for Denver in Week 12 of the 1992 season.
Briefly:
Travis Frederick will not go on injured reserve initially as he deals with a condition that affects the nervous system, although the Cowboys still don’t have a timetable for the return of their four-time Pro Bowl center . ... The Colts signed former Stanford tight end Ryan Hewitt. Hewitt played in 60 games and made 37 starts during the past four seasons with Cincinnati . ... The Saints signed ex-New England running back Mike Gillislee.