Wentz says style change not in order
Injured Eagles’ QB intends to return for season opener
PHILADELPHIA » Carson Wentz didn’t hold back Tuesday.
With the Eagles’ offseason workouts in the early stages, Wentz bared a portion of the soul he’d kept hidden during the team’s march to the Super Bowl championship last winter.
Yes, there was some personal jealousy when backup quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Yes, Wentz is driven to start behind center for the 2018 season opener, his rehab from knee surgery having progressed to running exercises.
But no, there’s absolutely no way he’s going to change the borderline reckless style that’s made him so dynamic, yet at the same time vulnerable to injuries.
“There will always be speculation, that’s just part of the business,” Wentz said. “But I’m not going to change. I think I’m always going to learn. I know from the first year to the second year
“There will always be speculation, that’s just part of the business. But I’m not going to change. I think I’m always going to learn. As far as just overall changing my style, that’s not going to happen.”
– Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.
I thought I learned quite a bit about protecting myself. Then, going back and watching again, there’s things you just keep learning from. But as far as just overall changing my style, that’s not going to happen.”
Wentz guided the Eagles to an 11-2 start, standing tall in the pocket to throw his club-record 33rd touchdown pass on two torn knee ligaments in a win over the Los Angeles Rams. Foles wound up leading the Eagles to the game-winning points, a field goal by Jake Elliott. And Foles was nothing short of sensational in
the playoffs, crushing it against the defensively stout Minnesota Vikings and outdueling Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Seeing Foles celebrate the title on the podium was difficult for Wentz, who was seeing someone else reap the rewards of what largely was his labor.
“You grow up wanting to do that,” Wentz said. “And I did. But to not be able to be up there, I wouldn’t rather have anybody else be up there than Nick.”
Eagles coach Doug Pederson has made it clear that Wentz is the Eagles’ starting quarterback, Foles the backup. The coach also was transparent in conceding that Foles’ future might be elsewhere. Foles wouldn’t
be the first starting quarterback the Birds traded.
Privately, Pederson has no doubts Wentz will be physically ready to start the season regardless of whether he gets any time in the preseason. That obviously could change should Wentz have a setback.
What won’t change, barring injury, is the quarterbacks room. After the injury, Wentz stayed as involved as he could, studying film and offering suggestions to the coaching staff, Foles and backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld. A documentary is on the way about that room last season.
“I mean, just to talk about my relationship with Nick in general, and how last year all unfolded, obviously it was
pretty different but pretty special,” Wentz said. “I think him and I, we’ve been so close ever since he first got here. We’ve just developed a real friendship, a real relationship. More than just a working relationship; a true friendship between me, him and really Nate as well. It was a really special room as well. To go through that experience last year was really cool.”
While Wentz is rebuilding relationships with teammates through the rehab, it’s safe to say he gained respect cheering them on last season.
“I think you learn a lot about people when they have nothing to gain in a situation,” Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “With Carson being out and the team still moving along and having
success, for him to still be engaged, still be involved and still be contributing and still wanting to contribute says a lot about his character. I know a lot of guys gained an awful lot of respect for him staying engaged. A lot of the times even the best-meaning people when they can’t be involved in it sometimes check out.”
Wentz declined to discuss specifics about his rehab. He’s proud to have begun the running phase of it.
“I’m feeling good and just trying to stay the course,” Wentz said. “It’s such a fluid process, it’s so hard to put a time frame and a timetable on these things. But I’m doing well and I’m happy where I’m at. You guys saw me weeks ago, I was throwing and everything.
Just to start being able to do a lot of those things again is a good sign.”
When Wentz hits the wall during the rehab, he will have no problem finding motivation. He’ll lean on the players who didn’t participate in the Super Bowl due to injuries.
“I know for myself and like Jordan Hicks and Chris Maragos, Jason Peters, it didn’t sit well with them, either,” Wentz said. “As much as we love our teammates and we were excited to see it, we wanted to be out there. And we definitely know that will kind of kick things into gear. I don’t think that complacency would have been an issue regardless. But I think that will definitely help.”