Carson Wentz Named Eagles’ Starting QB After Sam Bradford Traded To Vikings

Carson Wentz will start as quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, the team announced Monday.

Carson Wentz Named Eagles’ Starting QB After Sam Bradford Traded To Vikings

Coach Doug Pederson said the rookie will get the start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

“We obviously made this decision. And I spent the weekend with my offensive staff,” Pederson said. “Everybody feels like this kid is ready to go and we drafted him to take on the reins and it’s something now we are prepared to do.”

Wentz played merely one preseason game before suffering a rib fracture after taking a big hit. However, he was deemed to have recovered well enough to earn the starting spot.

The 23-year-old QB, selected by the Eagles as the second overall pick out of North Dakota State in the 2016 NFL Draft, told the media he was out goose hunting when he learned he was named Philadelphia’s starter.

“I was actually right in the middle of a cornfield hunting when that happened,” Wentz said. “So I got the call. I was obviously very surprised but instantly I was just really excited. A lot of excitement going on and I quickly cleaned up and got out of there. There was just so many emotions going on with my family and stuff, so now it’s just down to business. I’m very confident and I’m very excited to get this opportunity.”

Throughout the offseason, the Eagles repeatedly stated they were planning on sitting Wentz because the rookie needed time to improve his mechanics, footwork and mental approach to professional football. On July 17, Pederson said Wentz would probably be inactive on game day.

Meanwhile, the team also traded presumptive starting QB Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday in exchange for two draft picks: a 2017 first-round pick and a 2018 fourth-round pick.

The Eagles paid $11 million of Bradford’s salary as part of the deal, which means Minnesota will only be on the hook for $7 million in 2016, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The news was first reported by ESPN.

Bradford stated he’s “really just excited” to get an opportunity to play with Minnesota.

“Just excited to be here right now, anxious to get into the playbook and start learning the offense,” Bradford told the Vikings’ official website. “I can’t wait to get in there and get after it.”

This addition could really help the Vikings, especially after young starter Teddy Bridgewater suffered a dislocated knee injury and torn ACL on Tuesday.

Pederson added he is confident in Chase Daniel as Wentz’s backup and mentor.

Wentz has 39 snaps in the second-half of one preseason game under his belt. In May, few people would have guessed Wentz and Cowboys fourth-rounder Dak Prescott would both be starting Week 1.

“It’s something that we believe in, I believe in, this is why we drafted him,” Pederson said of reversing course on Wentz. “Would the ideal situation be later than sooner? Sure. But right now, where we are, we got a good football team around him, great defense, special teams. So all the pieces are here for him to be successful and for us to win some games.”

The Eagles also boast a new defense coordinator, Jim Schwartz. 

MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: North team’s quarterback Carson Wentz #11 with North Dakota State looks to throw a pass during their game against the South Team on January 30, 2016 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)