The Philadelphia Eagles have always indicated that they're going to develop Carson Wentz slowly, but his road to the top of the depth chart may even take longer than originally thought.
Doug Pederson says Carson Wentz will likely be inactive Week 1
The Eagles have always indicated that they’re going to bring along Wentz slowly.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Saturday that Wentz, who will likely be the No. 3 quarterback behind Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel, won't just sit on the bench Week 1. He probably won't even be dressed.
"Typically, the third quarterback is down," Pederson said, via the Philly Voice. "It's hard right now to look down the road, but if we had to play this week, Carson would be down. He'd be the third quarterback. He'd be deactivated. That's probably the direction we're heading, I would think is going that route. Obviously barring injury and, as you know, how this game is, but typically the third quarterback, whoever that is, is down on game day."
As Pederson said, few teams carry three active quarterbacks on game day. But it is surprising that he would instantly dismiss Wentz’s chances of playing early in the season.
Perhaps this is an attempt to quell any semblance of a quarterback controversy before training camp begins. The Eagles' decision to trade up in the draft and acquire Wentz caused apparent discord between the organization and Sam Bradford, who reportedly requested a trade in April. Bradford signed a two-year $36 million extension with the Eagles at the start of free agency, just 10 days before they gave Chase Daniel a three-year contract worth $21 million to purportedly serve as his backup. The 28-year-old Bradford recorded a pedestrian 86.4 QB rating in 14 starts last season.
Since the Eagles have a bye in Week 4, Pederson will have an easy opening to make a quarterback change if the team flounders through the first month of the season. But it seems as if Daniel, and not Wentz, would be next in line.
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