Which Wentz is real?
FIVE-PLUS years into his NFL career, do we really know who Carson Wentz is yet? Is he the franchise quarterback the Eagles drafted him to be in 2016?
Is he the quarterback who in his second season threw 33 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions while pointing the Eagles toward the Super Bowl with an 11-2 record as a starter before he wrecked his knee and unwittingly made Nick Foles a multimillionaire?
Is he the quarterback who has thrown 99 TD passes to just 39 INTs in his career to date? Or the quarterback who has a pedestrian 32-36 won-loss record as a starter, including 0-2 this season entering Sunday’s home game against the Bengals?
Wentz is 50-of-85 for 512 yards, with two TDs, four INTs and a lost fumble in two games. He’s tied for most INTs in the league and ranks 29th in completion percentage (58.8).
This led a reporter to ask Eagles coach Doug Pederson on Wednesday about what he termed “lay-up’’ passes that Wentz has been missing, which sent Pederson into protect-my-quarterback mode.
“Have you played quarterback in the National Football League?” Pederson snapped. “They’re not layups. There ain’t a throw out here that’s a lay-up.’’
When Pederson was asked why Wentz has been regressing, he said, “It’s a good question,” sounding like someone without an answer. ³When the Texans play at Pittsburgh, it will feature a rarity: Three brothers playing in the same game. Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will be playing against his Steelers brothers — linebacker T.J. and fullback Derek.
It will mark the second time since 1927 three brothers will play in an NFL game. It’ll also be the first time all three brothers, who all played at Wisconsin, will play in a game together at any level of their careers.
The only negative: Because of COVID-19 protocols preventing fans from attending games at Heinz Field, the Watt parents, John and Connie, can’t be inside the building to watch.
“I know they’re proud and they’ll be watching,’’ J.J. said. “It’ll be a special day.”