Hurts will replace Wentz as Eagles starting quarterback
Jalen Hurts will start for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, sending Carson Wentz to the bench.
Eagles coach Doug Pederson made the announcement Tuesday on the team’s website.
“We’re not where we want to be as an offense,” Pederson said. “I looked at the whole thing and decided that for this week to look for that spark again to try to get the team over the hump, to try to get everybody playing better.”
Pederson insisted Monday the decision was his, even though Wentz’s $128 million, four-year contract begins in 2021. Hurts replaced Wentz in the third quarter of a 30-16 loss to Green Bay and completed 5 of 12 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown, one interception and took three sacks.
“Carson is like all of us right now, he’s disappointed. He’s frustrated,” Pederson said. “He’s been a professional through it all. He supports his teammates and that’s what you want to see from him, the leader of the team.”
Pederson and Wentz came to Philadelphia in 2016.
They led the Eagles to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title in 2017. Wentz was 11-2 before a knee injury forced him to watch Nick Foles lead the Eagles through the playoffs and victory over New England.
Wentz finished third in NFL MVP voting that season, and last year he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards without one wide receiver having 500 yards receiving.
But Wentz has a careerlow 72.8 passer rating this season and 19 turnovers, including 15 interceptions. He hasn’t had much help. The injury- depleted offensive line has allowed 53 sacks, and his young, inexperienced receivers often aren’t open.
Hurts was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick this year when the Eagles had far more pressing needs. Now the 2019 Heisman Trophy runner-up gets his first opportunity as an NFL starter.
“I just want to see development. I think it’s a great opportunity for him, a great opportunity for the team,” Pederson said. LEAGUE REPORTS 45 NEW COVID CASES >> The NFL and NFL Players Association reported 45 new positive COVID-19 cases, down from about 75 each of the past two weeks. Testing for the period from Nov. 29Dec. 5 resulted in 18 positive tests among players and 27 among other personnel.
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