Despite Benching, Eagles Still Optimistic About Carson Wentz

According to Adam Schefter, team sources have maintained that despite being benched for this week and possibly the rest of the season, Eagles QB Carson Wentz remains in their long-term plans. 

Wentz has struggled mightily in 2020, leading the league in interceptions and failing to lead the Eagles offense to any sort of consistent effectiveness.

That culminated in his benching this past week and speculation about what the future holds for him in Philadelphia but Schefter notes the team is optimistic Wentz can bounce back. 

“None of this changes the belief that people have in Carson,” a source told ESPN. 

Ian Rapoport adds there are a lot of people in the organization who are still backing Wentz and believe with some time to reboot, he can fix some of the issues that have ailed him. 

However, Rapoport notes if Wentz’s replacement, second-round QB Jalen Hurts, is impressive in his appearances, he’ll keep getting starts. If he strings together four strong starts to end the season, that will complicate Wentz’s future and could lead to him being traded. 

Rapoport adds that based on conversations with general managers and other decision-makers, there would be a strong market for Wentz if Philadelphia were to put him on the block. 

Jason La Canfora echoes the reporting that internally, the Eagles are optimistic about Wentz’s future in Philadelphia. They say he’s taken the demotion in stride and continues to work hard and be present for Hurts as a sounding board.

However, La Canfora says other front offices are already starting to do work on Wentz with the assumption that he could be available this offseason, as his salary makes him untenable to hold as a backup.

If Wentz is available, the Colts are widely expected to be one of the top teams interested, per La Canfora. 

Wentz, 27, is a former first-round pick of the Eagles back in 2016. He was entering the final year of his four-year, $26.7 million rookie contract that included a $16.7 million signing bonus when the Eagles picked up his fifth-year option that would have cost them $22.78 million for the 2020 season. 

The Eagles then signed Wentz to a four-year, $128 million extension going into the 2019 season that included $107 million in guarantees. 

In 2020, Wentz has appeared in 12 games for the Eagles and completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also rushed for 276 yards and five touchdowns.

We’ll have more on Wentz as the news is available.