Wentz still unsure of status for Week 1
PHILADELPHIA — Carson Wentz survived his first 11-on-11 practice in three weeks, and now the race is on for the Eagles’ quarterback to be ready for the start of the regular season.
“It’s going to be close,” Wentz said Monday. “Nothing has really changed from last week other than the 11-on-11 practice, but the final hurdle, which will not be my decision, will be getting cleared for contact.”
There’s no telling as to when that will happen. Wentz said that will be determined by the Eagles’ medical staff. But the season opener on Sept. 6 will fall just shy of nine months since Wentz tore two ligaments in his knee. It is believed that a 9-12 month recovery period is needed for that type of injury.
Wentz did 11-on-11 drills the first three days of training camp from July 26-28. Then the Eagles scaled him back to individual drills and team 7-on-7 drills with no linemen present.
Wentz said he understood the reasoning behind putting him in a “more controlled environment,” as Eagles coach Doug Pederson put it.
“Not being out there was obviously frustrating,” Wentz said. “I want to be out there every day. I want to be a full participant in every single thing, but that wasn’t totally my call. You gotta be smart in those situations. It was tough, but getting back out there (Sunday) … in the full team drills, I enjoyed it.”
That continued in Monday’s practice. For now, Wentz will split the reps with the first team 50-50 with Nick Foles, who would start in Wentz’s place if Wentz isn’t ready in time for the season opener Sept. 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.
At some point next week, the Eagles will re-evaluate and start giving the majority of the reps to the quarterback they feel will be most ready for the Falcons.
If it’s Wentz, his work in practice will intensify.
“I don’t think we’re going to push it,” Eagles offensive coordinator Mike Groh said. “We’re going to listen to the doctors and the medical team, and they’ll make that determination. If he’s cleared, he’s cleared. Once you say you’re cleared, you’re ready to go. It’s not like ‘cleared, but’ ...
“When they give us the green light that he’s cleared, we’ll know that it’ll be time to ramp it up and get him ready for that game.”
Still, Wentz reiterated that decision to be cleared for contact will be up to the medical staff. He’s grateful to at least have that as a consideration before the regular season. Back when the injury first happened last December, Wentz gave himself a personal goal of Week 1.
He said over time, the doctors made him think that it could be realistic. That’s why Wentz said it’s been reassuring to look back on that first day of rehab to see how far he has come.
“It’s been a grueling process, a whirlwind offseason,” Wentz said. “But from a rehab standpoint, when you’re in the building almost every day during the week almost the whole offseason, you don’t really get a break. And then just the physical limitations early on and overcoming that, it’s kind of step by step. It’s been a grueling process, but I’m thankful for where I’m at and the progression that I have made.”
Wentz said he doesn’t have any mental hurdles to overcome about trusting the knee in a game situation. Wentz said he won’t play Thursday against the Cleveland Browns, and it’s believed that he won’t play in the preseason finale on Aug. 30 against the Jets, either.
So, was he worried about practicing outside in the rain on Sunday, followed by another practice Monday?
“We’re past that,” he said. “A little mush will never hurt anybody. We were good, we were full speed with that.”