Pederson reiterates Wentz is Philly's No. 1 QB
Eagles' coach says Wentz is starting quarterback
Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson reiterated Tuesday that Carson Wentz will be the team's starting quarterback in 2019.
Wentz missed the final three games of the regular season and two playoff games because of a back injury. Nick Foles led Philadelphia to four straight wins and was 27 yards away from taking the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game before his final pass bounced off Alshon Jeffery's hands and was intercepted to seal a 20-14 victory for the New Orleans Saints.
"Yes, Carson is the quarterback going forward," Pederson said at the start of his season-ending news conference.
Foles filled in when Wentz tore two knee ligaments in December 2017 and led Philadelphia to its first NFL title since 1960, earning Super Bowl MVP honors in a win over New England.
The Eagles must decide by mid-February if they want to exercise a $20 million option to keep Foles for 2019. But Foles could decline it and pay back $2 million to become a free agent.
Panthers uncertain of Newton's health
The Carolina Panthers are preparing for life without Cam Newton next season in case the team's franchise quarterback can't make it back from a lingering shoulder injury.
Panthers owner David Tepper said Tuesday that while the team is exhausting all options to make sure Newton's throwing shoulder gets the medical attention he needs this offseason, it is important to "keep their options open."
The hope, he said, is Newton will be healthy. However, it's been 2½ weeks since Carolina's season ended, and the team still doesn't know if the 2015 league MVP will need surgery.
The Panthers have never said what the injury is — and Newton doesn't know either.
Newton struggled most of the season throwing the ball more than 15 yards downfield because of a lingering shoulder issue, partially stemming from surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in 2017. The Panthers eventually shut him down with two games remaining after being eliminated from playoff contention.