The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

Sudfeld still Birds’ backup QB

- By Bob Grotz bgrotz@21st-centurymed­ia.com @bobgrotz on Twitter

Nate Sudfeld has the lead right now at backup quarterbac­k for the Eagles.

That according to head coach Doug Pederson, who during a half-hour teleconfer­ence Tuesday said the veteran of two Eagles seasons was ahead of Jalen Hurts, the second-round pick out of Oklahoma.

“Football teams are going to have to rely on their veteran players and Nate is one of those guys,” Pederson said on a teleconfer­ence Tuesday. “He knows exactly what we’re doing and I have a ton of confidence in Nate to become the backup quarterbac­k. Nothing is ever handed to anybody. I always try to create competitio­n. But I fully expect Nate to come in and be aggressive and do the things he’s capable of doing and become the backup to Carson (Wentz).”

When and if the Eagles return to the NovaCare Complex to practice this summer, the uncertaint­y due, of course, to the unpredicta­ble coronaviru­s pandemic, it will be interestin­g to see how Sudfeld fits into the Eagles’ plans.

Moments after shocking draft observers by taking Hurts off the board, the Eagles insisted they will have a role this season for the young quarterbac­k, who is comfortabl­e running the same sort of run-pass option plays that made Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles so dangerous.

Literalist­s insist it won’t be a Taysom Hill role because the skills sets of Hurts and the New Orleans Saints wildcat quarterbac­k and special teams player are so different.

Obviously, the Eagles will tailor a role to the strengths of Hurts, essentiall­y to get him acclimated in the event Wentz gets hurt. Freak injuries or not, Wentz has been unable to finish the last three Eagles seasons. A mobile quarterbac­k like Hurts, who does some of his best work outside the pocket, makes a lot

 ?? MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Nate Sudfeld, on the run in a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans last August, still shapes up to be the backup quarterbac­k behind Carson Wentz for the Eagles.
MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Nate Sudfeld, on the run in a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans last August, still shapes up to be the backup quarterbac­k behind Carson Wentz for the Eagles.

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