Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Wentz hasn’t been the same since last Seattle game
With chaos swirling, focus on result tonight against Seattle
PHILADELPHIA » The Eagles’ season has taken another mysterious turn, following a report that they’ll expand the use of rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts Monday night when they oppose the Seattle Seahawks at Lincoln Financial Field ( 8: 15, FOX, WIP- 94.1 FM).
Head coach Doug Pederson spent the week saying there had been no change in the roles of struggling starter Carson Wentz, who leads the league with 18 turnovers, and backup Hurts, the secondround pick out of Oklahoma and people’s choice to save the club from its worst start since 2012.
Pederson Saturday gave Wentz a vote of confidence saying, “He and I are in this together.
“We’re going to get this thing turned around and fixed,” said Pederson, who also denied Hurts was getting more first- team snaps in practices that remain closed to the media. “Got a lot of confidence in him that he’ll get it done. Got confidence in myself that I can get it done.”
On Sunday, the NFL Network reported that Hurts likely will receive a bigger role in the offense, including multiple series where he’s on the field and Wentz isn’t. Wentz has been on the field for all of the 31 specialty snaps played by Hurts.
It’s been an ugly week for Pederson. One day he said Jason Peters would remain the starting left tackle going forward. A few days later Peters was moved to guard, ostensibly because right tackle Lane Johnson shut himself down with an ankle injury requiring surgery.
That defied Pederson’s mantra of avoiding multiple changes on the offensive line to promote chemistry. This week features three changes, Jordan Mailata taking over at left tackle and Matt Pryor starting at right tackle. It’s the 10th different lineup in 11 games.
The Eagles were 5- point underdogs before Hurts was alleged to have a larger role in the offense. Now they’re 6- point underdogs.
The Eagles ( 3- 6- 1) have never beaten Russell Wilson, who is 5- 0 against them ( including playoffs) with eight touchdown passes and one interception. On the season, Wilson has completed 70.7 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 111.5 passer rating for the NFC West leaders.
“MVP caliber season,” Eagles safety Rodney McLeod said. “We all know Russell controls that offense and he has dynamic receivers. They’re all playing at a high level right now. D. K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, they all have the ability to stretch the field, good hands. With Russell throwing them the ball, they’re a dangerous group. Understanding Russell’s ability to extend plays we’re going to have to cover a little longer than we’re used to.”
No tandem of receivers had more TD receptions entering the weekend than Metcalf ( nine) and Lockett ( seven). No team has fewer interceptions than the Eagles, McLeod contributing one of the three.
The Seahawks ( 7- 3) are wellrested, having last played Nov. 19 in a 28- 21 victory over Arizona. They’ve welcomed back running back Chris Carson, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and center Ethan Pocic, who all missed multiple games.
The Eagles have resorted to scaling back the base offense in hopes of getting the quarterbacks on the same page with the offensive line and receivers against a Seahawks defense that ranks last in the league in yards allowed and last in passing yards given up.
“I don’t think it’s going to be anything drastic,” Wentz said. “Internally within the schemes and stuff I think there will be some subtleties that will help us play faster.”
The Eagles spent the week working through wave after wave of outside noise, ranging from Pederson’s unsubstantiated willingness to move on to a report that owner Jeffrey Lurie was too disgusted with the team to travel to Cleveland and watch the 2217 loss to the Browns. Browns general manager Andrew Berry worked for the Eagles last season.
Pederson and his coaching staff weren’t the only management types under fire as the Eagles prepared to keep up with the Seahawks, who are scoring almost 32 points per game. The outside noise is that the Eagles should get rid of general manager Howie Roseman, a debate that has gone national.
Wentz, who has thrown 14 TDs and 14 interceptions, said his preparation hasn’t changed this week, whatever that means. He also went off on a spiritual tangent when asked about the pressure of being the face of the Eagles, who look like they made a mistake by handing him a fouryear $ 128 million contract extension.
“I spend a lot of time every day in the Bible praying and just trying to stay grounded on a much bigger picture than football,”
Wentz said. “Obviously this is a job and a lot of people in this city and in this country care a lot. I care sometimes too much. You want to succeed so badly. But for me it’s just that constant reminder of a much bigger picture, a much bigger purpose that God’s got his hand all over this. He’s already written this story, and I’m just trying to be obedient to where God has me.”
For Wentz’s teammates, it cannot be easy blocking out the distractions that, if proven true, almost certainly mean wholesale changes.
“I think where we are as a team, our record, what everyone is saying outside of this building, you know, we could care less honestly,” McLeod said. “It’s all about the men within these walls on this team and the way that we prepare and the way we execute come Monday night that’s going to determine the game. It’s on us. We understand that and so it is a great chance and a good opportunity that we have to go against a great team like Seattle with their type of offense and defense. Coming out Monday night with a win, I think that will help our season and get us back on track.”
The alternative is more chaos.