Eagles QB Wentz says he tore ACL and LCL
PHILADELPHIA » For a few minutes Friday, the Eagles were Carson Wentz’s team again.
The injured quarterback held court in front of his locker, next to the spot occupied by Nick Foles, to discuss the repairs to his left knee and the rehab. Then it was back to reality, which for Wentz, the ultimate team player meant applauding the job his successor has done.
“He is just playing confident,” Wentz said of Foles, who wasn’t around the media scrum. “He’s getting the reps. It’s not easy, not practicing. It’s not easy to just step in there, not having a training camp or a preseason. This game is such a timing thing. Just getting those extra reps, you can see the confidence he has. He’s always been a playmaker. He’s always been able to make plays and throw the ball well. You can see him coming into his own in the last couple weeks. It’s unbelievable.”
Foles is 4-1 in five starts with eight touchdown passes and two interceptions since replacing
Wentz, who was injured late in the third quarter of the NFC East pennant-clinching win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Wentz isn’t certain if he hurt his knee planting or getting sandwiched by a pile of Rams while diving into the end zone. He played one more snap, throwing his single-season team record 33rd touchdown pass, Alshon Jeffery making a shoestring catch from two yards out.
But Wentz was clear about damage. He said he tore his left ACL and his left LCL, the latter of which wasn’t revealed by the Eagles. Generally, a player needs 9 to 12 months to make a reasonable recovery from a torn ACL. Wentz shed his crutch this week. He thinks – and think is the operative word – he can be ready for the 2018 regular season opener.
“I truly believe I’ll be ready for Week 1,” Wentz said. “I’m very confident in talking with trainers and everything that the rehab sked doesn’t change a whole lot. It’s just something we need to be careful with.”
The healing skills of Wentz should not be underestimated. In his rookie season he cracked a rib in his first half of preseason action. When then starting quarterback Sam Bradford was traded, he started the regular season opener, leading the Eagles to a win over the Cleveland Browns.
Until then the Eagles have a capable backup. Foles, with barely enough time to sync his helmet radio, jumped off the bench to lead the team to a 4335 comeback win over the Rams, clinching the NFC East-pennant and the organization’s first playoff berth since the 2013 season.
Foles led the Eagles to two field goals, thanks to takeaways, and Brandon Graham contributed a 16yard scoop and score to complete the victory.
Wentz since has offered help to Foles in a supporting role, pointing out things he sees and offering his take on cutouts of plays communicated through the iPads on the sideline.
Wentz says the playbook hasn’t changed for Foles, who, looking at the numbers, has become more and more comfortable making decisions in the run, pass, option part of the Eagles’ scheme.
Foles is among a handful of players to record a passer rating of 100 or more in three straight playoff games. Tom Brady, by the way, isn’t part of the select group.
For Wentz, watching a successor doing the job as seamlessly as he did, has stoked his competitive side. The same can be said for the suggestion that the injury might make him alter the running part of his game. The hard hit he took in Los Angeles won’t his last.
“Obviously, if you want to talk learning about protecting yourself, we talked about that all season long,” Wentz said. “That’ll continue to grow and develop. As far as playing aggressive and being the player that I am, I won’t change.”
Zach Ertz, who leads the Eagles in receiving, predicted the trip to the Super Bowl to take on the defending champion New England Patriots in Minneapolis in two Sundays wouldn’t be the last time you’d see the organization playing in the ultimate title game.
“Without a doubt,” Wentz said. “I think we have the culture around here. I said it since I got here, we have something special here, without a doubt. That starts from the ownership on down. Coach Pederson, ever since he’s gotten here, is establishing that culture. Coming in the same time with him, we’ve been able to establish that together. I think we have a culture and a brotherhood here that we’re going to be successful.
A chunk of the future success hinges on the health at the quarterback position. Nine months out from Wentz’s knee injury takes the Eagles into the first week of September. Twelve months is December.
Typically, a player needs to play a full season before he’s feeling like himself again although there are exceptions. In the 2012 season, Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,000 yards just eight months after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee.
Wentz basically thinks he can match that.
“I’m aiming for Week 1,” Wentz said. “The rehab schedule doesn’t change a whole lot. I’m feeling very confident with it.”