Philly’s new faces:
A lot of the defending champions remain, but some crucial players such as Carson Wentz weren’t part of Super Bowl LII run.
Three questions facing the Eagles:
When will Wentz be ready?
Carson Wentz’s recovery from a torn ACL has been the ongoing question throughout the summer.
Coach Doug Pederson is on record as saying the franchise quarterback doesn’t need a full training camp, or to play in any of the four preseason games, in order to be ready for Week 1. Pederson insisted that the Eagles will not rush him back.
And there will be some intrigue. The Eagles do have Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles, of course. Foles will get the firstteam reps until Wentz, who participated in seven-on-seven drills in organized team activities, is ready.
And it will also provide an opportunity for returning thirdstringer Nate Sudfeld and former Packers third-stringer Joe Callahan to compete to become Foles’ backup and the thirdstring quarterback when Wentz returns.
Is the hunger still there?
It’s a question that every Super Bowl champion has to face. But the Eagles’ situation is somewhat different.
While it is a veteran-laden team, there were more veterans brought in this season who either never won a Super Bowl or haven’t in several years. That list includes defensive linemen Haloti Ngata and Michael Bennett, tight end Richard Rodgers, wide receiver Mike Wallace and linebacker Corey Nelson.
In addition, the Eagles had several veterans who suffered season-ending injuries who have never won a Super Bowl. That starts with Wentz, who was having an MVP-caliber season before he tore two ligaments in his knee in December; left tackle Jason Peters, who was headed to his 10th Pro Bowl selection; running back Darren Sproles; linebacker Jordan Hicks; and special teams ace Chris Maragos.
For many of these injured players — particularly Peters, who’s 36, and Sproles, who’s 35 — this could be their last chance. Sproles says he is retiring from the game after the 2018 season, which will be his 14th year in the NFL.
“We have something special here with the team, the fans, and the city,” Sproles said in a letter. “We made history bringing the first Lombardi Trophy to Philly and now we want to go back-to-back.”
Where is the most interesting competition?
That would be at weakside linebacker, especially after Mychal Kendricks’ release. The first two spots are set with Hicks returning in the middle and Nigel Bradham re-signed and set at strong side. Bradham, however, will serve a two-game suspension to start the season. (Bradham said it stemmed from a 2016 incident in which he was charged with assaulting a hotel employee in Miami. Bradham accepted a deferred prosecution program last July, and the case was closed in January.)
The Eagles signed Nelson, a special teams ace, from Denver. He could play on the weak side. They also have Nathan Gerry.