The Eagles and starting quarterback Carson Wentz. got some bad news early in their home playoff game against the Seahawks. Late in the first quarter of Sunday’s wild card game, Wentz went to the locker room to reportedly be evaluated for a concussion. He exited the game after taking a big hit from Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney:
Carson Wentz’s horrible playoff injury luck returned after a big hit from Jadeveon Clowney
The QB was evaluated for a concussion after taking a hit in the first quarter. He was later ruled out for the game.
NBC Sports’ Michelle Tafoya reported that Wentz would be evaluated by the league’s concussion specialist, and he was later ruled out for the game.
Wentz’s backup, Josh McCown, entered at quarterback after Wentz left the game. Although the Eagles lost 17-9, McCown finished 18-of-24 passing with 174 yards and 23 yards rushing. ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reported that Wentz’s wife was also seen being escorted to the locker room area:
After the game, Philly head coach Doug Pederson was seen telling Seattle’s Russell Wilson that Wentz “should be fine.”
Clowney was asked by reporters about the hit, too:
“I was just rushing the passer,” Clowney told ESPN’s Josina Anderson after the game. “It was a bang-bang play. I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. I just play the game with a lot of enthusiasm and effort. I hope he’s OK.”
“I don’t intend to hurt anybody in this league, let me just put that out there,” Clowney added following the game.
Some of Wentz’s teammates had things to say to Clowney, too:
Although the hit was a hard one, referee Shawn Smith explained to reporters after the game why there was no foul for the hit:
Pederson was asked about Clowney’s hit after the game. Via Bleeding Green Nation:
Pederson talked about the hit by Jadeveon Clowney and said he didn’t say anything afterward to the officials about it not being flagged because he didn’t see it. He doubled up that he didn’t see the hit because he was looking to call the next play. Even if he heard things from the team about it, there was nothing he could do about it.
“They didn’t call it, so obviously they didn’t think it was a penalty.”
Getting hurt wasn’t his fault, but Wentz even apologized to some of his teammates after the game for not being able to play — it’s easy to see how badly he wanted to be out there for his team. Monday morning after the game, Wentz posted on Instagram saying that “he feels good today” and will be just fine:
The Eagles have had a slew of injuries this season, but Philadelphia’s fourth-year quarterback has otherwise managed to stay healthy this year. It’s a stroke of bad luck for Wentz, too. While this is the third straight season the Eagles have made the playoffs, he was out with injury the first two times.
In 2017, Wentz tore his ACL late in the season. Backup quarterback Nick Foles then led the Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl win. Last year, Wentz missed the final three games during the regular season with a back injury. Foles took over again and got the Eagles into the playoffs, where they lost to the Saints in the Divisional Round.
In the offseason, Foles signed with the Jaguars. McCown, who had retired, was signed to back up Wentz in August after injuries to both Nate Sudfeld and Cody Kessler.
The 40-year-old McCown had only attempted five passes all season before entering the game against the Seahawks. It was the first playoff appearance for the journeyman quarterback.
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