Eagles
After stubbornly denying the inevitable for weeks, the Eagles finally pulled the trigger on sending QB Carson Wentz to the bench, announcing second-round QB Jalen Hurts would start in Week 14 against the Saints. Eagles HC Doug Pederson acknowledged that Wentz, universally seen as a franchise quarterback in Philadelphia until the events of this season, was not happy.
“Carson is like all of us right now, he’s disappointed. He’s frustrated,” Pederson said via Dave Spadaro of the team website. “He’s been a professional through it all. He supports his teammates and that’s what you want to see from him, the leader of the team. I know sometimes the quarterback gets a lot of the blame like the head coach does. It’s the good with the bad. It’s not about Carson Wentz. It’s not about one person. We know we have issues on offense and it has been a struggle for us all season. That’s where the frustration lies a little bit, but he’s been a pro and would expect nothing less.”
Pederson did express some confidence in Wentz long-term despite the obvious questions this benching raises.
“Carson’s been a big part of the success that we’ve had. He was on that championship team that got us to that level. Even in ’18 and ’19 he led the team and got us into the postseason and I know we can get back to that level. That’s why I have so much confidence in him,” Pederson said.
Giants
- The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes Giants RB Devonta Freeman was placed on injured reserve with injuries that weren’t believed to be season-ending but his positive COVID-19 test has pushed his return back even further.
- Given how well Giants RB Wayne Gallman has been playing, Duggan doesn’t anticipate Freeman getting the starting job back when he returns.
Washington
Washington QB Alex Smith notched what probably will be the signature win of his comeback this season, leading a second-half comeback to topple the previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. Smith was 31-46 passing for 296 yards and a touchdown, and he overcame what basically amounted to a stab wound on his left leg that was spurting blood.
“I had to do a quick check to make sure it was my left leg versus my right, a little more concerned with my right leg,” Smith said in an interview with ESPN per NFL Media’s Nick Shook. “It was a new one for me, it was a bit of a gusher. Luckily, it was right before half so we were able to tape it up and then get in at halftime and take care of it. So, nothing serious, just hit the right spot and kept bleeding.”
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