Wentz coping with loss of WR Matthews
Two were close on and off the field
PHILADELPHIA » No Eagles player took the deal sending Jordan Matthews to the Bills harder than Carson Wentz.
Wentz, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton, Jordan Hicks and Chris Maragos had a final supper with Matthews Friday night. Wentz then drove Matthews to the airport for the flight to Buffalo.
“On the personal side it’s tough,” Wentz said. “This is my first time experiencing this with someone who’s one of my best friends. Seeing him yesterday, it was tough on him, too. It was kind of out of the blue.”
Wentz continued with a long “ummm” followed by an extended pause. Then he gathered himself.
“There’s really no other way to put it,” Wentz said. “It’s just kind of tough personally.”
The Eagles shipped Matthews, their most productive receiver the past three years and a thirdround pick to the Bills for cornerback Ronald Darby. Matthews expressed angst and disbelief.
“I’m still trying to dissect what’s real and what’s true as I move forward,” Matthews tweeted.
The tweet include an emoticon with a frown.
Wentz and Matthews developed a solid chemistry on and off the field in their season and change together. Both worked at their craft as well as their faith. Matthews bonded with several teammates.
“It will be different,” Wentz said. “It will be tough. But like I said I think it just speaks to the type of guy he was. Everyone loved him. He was the ultimate competitor. It was always about the team first. Replacing a guy like that in the locker room definitely isn’t going to be easy.”
For whatever reason, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson shied away from listing Darby as the instant starter at cornerback on a team where the back end of the defense remains a concern.
“We’re getting a tremendous athlete, obviously a two-year starter,” Pederson said. “What I’ve seen on tape — obviously I didn’t study him when he came out of college — but what I’ve seen so far and what I’m hearing is he’s not only a good teammate but a good person.”
Pederson found it easier answering what the Eagles gave up.
“What are you losing, well, I think you’re losing a great person,” Pederson said. “He and I had a good relationship. This business is a difficult one. You got to make some tough choices from time to time and obviously we do what’s best for the Philadelphia Eagles. We felt that this was a good opportunity for both sides.”
Wentz said that Eagles vice president of football operations informed of the trade shortly after it was done.
“I just said, ‘that’s part of the business,’” Wentz said. “Obviously he knew how I felt with Jordan being one of my best friends. On the personal side that’s tough, he knew that, but keeping business, business, that’s part of it.”
With the Eagles entertaining the Bills Thursday, Matthews will be on the other side of the field.
“It’s going to be weird,” Wentz said. “It’s going to be really weird. It’s not going to be fun, I’ll tell you that.