Sick feeling about Foles continues day to day
PHILADELPHIA » Add an unidentified illness to the inflamed elbow that’s shelved backup quarterback Nick Foles for all but a few throws of training camp.
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, in a raspy voice indicative of a cold, said Tuesday he excused Foles from work and that — you’ve got it — the veteran is “day-to-day.”
Asked about Foles’ elbow, Pederson replied it was “Fine, doing well, getting better.
“We’re just pushing towards the regular season,” Coach Doug said.
Pederson later said he was comfortable with either Foles or Matt McGloin, the 27-year-old veteran, backing up starter Carson Wentz. It was a hint that Foles could end up on injured reserve. A recent rules change gives teams the option of placing up to two players on injured reserve designated for return during the season.
What Pederson doesn’t seem to want is to keep three quarterbacks on the roster heading into the season.
The Eagles and most of their contemporaries carry just two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster and another on the practice squad.
McGloin, the product of Penn State, obviously isn’t a candidate for the practice squad. He’s been solid in relief of Wentz and competent in an offense he’s learned almost from scratch.
“I’m very comfortable with Matt,” Pederson said. “I think he’s done an outstanding job all of camp. He’s had a ton of reps in Nick’s absence. I’m comfortable with where he’s at and what he’s done with our offense.”
McGloin explained that the Eagles’ propensity to keep two quarterbacks rather than three wasn’t part of his decision to sign with them.
“I can’t control if I’m first, second, third or fourth,” McGloin said. “I can control that I’m here today and I’m going to work hard in the film room, I’m going to work hard in the weight room and I’m going to work on the practice field. That way if I make the team or get more reps, it’s awesome. But if I don’t, then I need to work harder to get more reps or this and that. At the end of the day it’s out of my hands. All I can do is stay positive and work harder.”
McGloin said he chose the Eagles to reunite with quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, whom he played for with the Oakland Raiders.
“And the opportunity to work with Frank (Reich) and Doug, who are both former quarterbacks who have a lot of experience,” McGloin said. “I just feel myself growing as a quarterback from being around those guys on a daily basis. In terms of whether you keep two or three quarterbacks, I can’t control it. I compete every day. I’ve beaten out guys that have been ahead of me before. But those decisions are well above my pay grade.”
Foles has said there’s nothing structurally wrong with his elbow. Despite extended rest, he’s not been able to put together consecutive full practices.
*** NOTES » Teams must reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 by 4 p.m. Saturday. That means up to 1,184 players will be on the streets, placed on injured reserve or designated for return. In past years teams had a first cut in which they reduced their rosters to 75 players. That meant 704 players would be released league wide to get to the 53-man limit. Pederson on that: “It’s going to be extremely difficult because so many guys are going to hit the wire on a short notice. It’s hard to evaluate them all. You just don’t have enough manhours to get the job done. A lot of it, with our department, is the prep work they do beforehand to anticipate moves. And then it just kind of becomes a feeding frenzy a little bit to claim players and to see if somebody can fit into your scheme. I’m sure we’ll be active. We usually are. Try to fill out, not only the roster but practice squad guys.” ... Linebacker and special teams standout Najee Goode underwent surgery for a broken bone in his right hand. He insists the injury won’t keep him out of the regular season opener Sept. 10 against the Redskins. ... Undrafted rookie quarterback Dane Evans would seem to be a candidate for the practice squad.