Hard for Wentz to shake hunter mentality

PHILADELPHIA » Flushed from the pocket, Carson Wentz is conflicted, kind of like the wild game he hunts in the Wentz Bros. Outdoors YouTube series.

Wentz’s instinct is to attack. The Eagles’ coaching staff wants him to take cover. Testosterone generally wins, and it’s endeared Wentz to teammates all the more inspired when he gets back on his feet. There’s not much Doug Pederson and his staff can do but repeat their mantra en masse and individually.

“Protect yourself, whether it’s sliding, going down or getting out of bounds,” is the way Pederson put it Wednesday. “I’ve said this before that unless it’s the gamewinner in the Super Bowl, protect yourself.”

From his role of hunter to hunted, has been anything but a seamless transition for Wentz. This is a serious outdoorsman who uses all of the tricks of the trade to hunt all kinds of game, from decoys to whistles to camouflage. It’s unnatural for a guy who has his prey in his crosshairs to protect himself. That’s what the game is supposed to do.

Finding the off button probably always will be an adventure, although Wentz has downshifted from the guy who took that huge hit trying to run through two Panthers near the goal line during their Thursday night game.

Wentz didn’t say he was tired of hearing ‘protect yourself.’ Then again, if he’s heard it once, he’s