Philadelphia Eagles fans have not seen quarterback Carson Wentz in action since the game against Dallas on Dec. 9. There is a good chance they might have to wait a little bit longer.
Eagles’ coach Doug Pedersen would not tell reporters on Tuesday if Wentz would appear in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Titans at Lincoln Financial Field. And if he does play, don’t blink because you might miss it.
Wentz played no preseason games last year
Given a clean bill of health after suffering from a broken vertebra in his back late last season, Wentz did not appear in a single preseason game last year after coming back from an ACL injury. He wasn’t cleared to play until the third game of last season.
But Wentz entered training camp last week with no restrictions. He says he’s ready to play on Thursday night, but if Pedersen wants to give him a little more rest, that’s OK, too.
“It’s his decision; I’ll be ready either way,” Wentz told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “My preseasons have looked vastly different every year. So I don’t know if there’s a [correct] formula for it.”
“A little bit is helpful, but I don’t know if it’s needed. I’ll trust coach to make those decisions.”
The Eagles backup QBs in the spotlight
Pedersen said if Wentz does not play it would give the coach more opportunity to evaluate backups Nate Sudfeld, as well as two new quarterbacks in rookie Clayton Thorson and fourth-year veteran Cody Kessler.
Ideally, Pedersen wants to get Sudfeld as much time under center as possible over the four preseason games, especially since Wentz figures to see some action in the middle two preseason games against Jacksonville and Baltimore.
Wentz did not figure to see significant action heading into Thursday’s game, and the Eagles were 3½-point favorites at home against the Titans.
