The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
QB Wentz cleared for return to the field
Eagles QB will start Sunday against Colts
PHILADELPHIA » Carson Wentz got the green light to get back in the lineup Monday.
Wentz will start Sunday when the Eagles entertain the Indianapolis Colts, according to Doug Pederson. On Thursday it will be nine months and a week since Wentz had the ACL and LCL in his left knee surgically repaired.
“In my mind, and we all felt the same way, when he’s cleared, he’s cleared,” Pederson said. “There’s no need to hold back. Now we’re still going to have conversations with him about protecting yourself, as we do with all the quarterbacks, and making sure we do the right things there. but there’s no limitations.”
Pederson dismissed concerns about Wentz getting hit for obvious reasons — football is a physical game. He noted the hits that Nick Foles took Sunday in the Eagles’ 27-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It’s part of the game,” Pederson said. “I’m not going to coach scared. I’m not going to coach paranoid, I’m not going to go in thinking we can’t do this, we can’t do that. We just have to continue to go play.
“Now, if there’s opportunities to max the protection and do some things there, we’ll do that by game plan, by design. But I don’t think things are going to change too much.”
Wentz tweeted out video of Jake Elliott’s game-winning 61yard field goal against the Giants with “That “I’m back” feeling” on his certified Twitter account.
Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles, who guided the Eagles to a 6-2 record in the absence of Wentz, has been supportive of Wentz throughout the process. Pederson doesn’t expect that to change.
“Nick all along has understood this is Carson’s football team,” Pederson said. “We owe a lot of gratitude to Nick Foles, what he’s
done and how he’s led this football team. He’s a pro’s pro.”
Pederson also stated the Eagles have plenty of areas to clean up to get back on the winning track. And while it’s not realistic to expect Wentz to step in and pick up where he left off last year, the Eagles will benefit from his presence.
“It’s going to take some time to get back into the rhythm and the flow of the game,” Pederson said. “The speed of the game is different than the speed of practice. He’s a guy that will be totally prepared. He comes in early, studies the tape, as do all the quarterbacks, stays obviously late in the day, asks a lot of questions, has a lot of ideas. You know. So, he’s going to be prepared mentally. Now it’s just a matter of the physical part taking over.”
Pederson said it was clearly a medical decision to bring Wentz back.
Pederson said Alshon Jeffery (shoulder), Wentz’s top receiver, is week-to-week. Receiver Mike Wallace has a fractured right fibula and is out at least a few weeks, per Pederson. He’s being evaluated further.
Offensive tackle Jason Peters suffered a quadriceps issue.