Wentz back injury won’t require surgery
Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Friday that quarterback Carson Wentz does not require surgery for a stress fracture in his back, and the injury could take up to three months to heal.
The quarterback is listed as “questionable” for Sunday night’s game against the Rams in Los Angeles and is scheduled to travel with the team. Nick Foles wasn’t available to speak to reporters, but teammates expect the Super Bowl MVP to start.
“He’s the guy, and it’s my job to create as much separation for him or if he gives me an opportunity and I am covered, go get it,” wide receiver Nelson Agholor said after practice.
Pederson is optimistic about Wentz’s recovery.
“The fact that he doesn’t need surgery on this is the best news you could possibly have on anybody that has a stress fracture or stress injury,” Pederson said.
He wouldn’t rule him out for this week or the rest of this season. The Eagles (67) are still in the chase for a playoff spot.
“If we put him out there, there has to be 100 percent that there’s no risk of anything further.”
The team isn’t certain when Wentz got hurt and Pederson said the injury developed over time. A test on Tuesday revealed his condition.
FORMER FALCON GREAT FRALIC DIES >> Former Atlanta Falcons star Bill Fralic, the burly, bruising and athletic offensive lineman who was a three-time All-American at Pittsburgh, died. He was 56. The school said Fralic had cancer and died Thursday at his home in suburban Atlanta.
The Falcons selected Fralic with the No. 2 pick in the 1985 draft. He spent nine seasons in the league, Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller, trying to tackle Chargers receiver Travis Benjamin, had surgery Friday.
including eight as a fixture with the Falcons. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and earned AllPro honors in 1986 and 1987. The NFL placed him on its All-Decade Team for the 1980s.
At Pitt, Fralic was the first offensive lineman to finish in the top 10 in Heisman Trophy balloting finishing
eighth in 1983 and sixth in 1984.
CHIEFS’ SECONDARY TAKES A
HIT AS FULLER TO HAVE SURGERY >> The Chiefs appear to have lost a key piece of their secondary as they pursue a division title and the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Starting cornerback Kendall Fuller is believed to have played through a fractured wrist in the 29-28 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night and was expected to have surgery Friday morning, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
During media availability before the Chargers game, Fuller had what looked like a brace on his wrist and thumb. He played with a red cast on his right wrist that looked to be protecting his thumb during Thursday night’s game. BECKHAM OUT >> The New York Giants will need to keep their faint playoff hopes alive without Odell Beckham Jr. for the second consecutive week. Coach Pat Shurmur said the NFL’s highest-paid receiver will be sidelined again with a quad injury when the Giants (5-8) play the Tennessee Titans (7-6) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Shurmur said Beckham’s status will remain day-today. He practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and missed the past two days, getting further testing on his injury on Thursday.
“No setback. He can’t go,” Shurmur said of Beckham, who is second on the team with 77 catches for a teamhigh 1,052 yards and six touchdowns.
STEELERS’ CONNER QUESTIONABLE >> The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping running back James Conner’s sprained left ankle will be ready in time to play on Sunday against New England. The AFC North leaders listed Conner as questionable to face the Patriots in a pivotal game for the Steelers (7-5-1). They have dropped three in a row and lead Baltimore by a halfgame for the top spot in the division. Conner sat out last week’s loss to the Raiders after injuring the ankle in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 2. Conner is sixth in the NFL with 909 yards rushing and second with 12 rushing touchdowns.