Quarterback Carson Wentz has reportedly been working with former NFL coach Jon Gruden in the offseason as he attempts to find his next team in free agency. Even as training camps begin across the league, the former Eagles star remains unsigned.

At age 30, Wentz ended his 2022 season with the Washington Commanders, where he was inconsistent as the starter before heading to the injured with a ring finger injury. He did not return to his starting role after Taylor Heineke took over and nearly led the team to the playoffs. Wentz was released in February.

ESPN reported in May that Wentz was open to any role, whether it be as a starter or backup. He has reportedly been working with Gruden watching film and throwing, but the former coach’s public reputation makes this collaboration somewhat controversial.

Gruden, who won the Super Bowl in 2003 with the Buccaneers, resigned as Raiders head coach in 2021 after landing in the center of an ongoing controversy concerning the Washington Football Team. While NFL officials were investigating owner Dan Snyder for a litany of workplace misconduct and other violations, they discovered email correspondences between Gruden and Washington general manager Bruce Allen. The messages contained racist speech directed toward NFL figures and directly led to Gruden’s release.

It is unclear how Wentz became acquainted with Gruden, as the two have never worked together directly. Before his lone season with the Commanders, Wentz spent a similarly unsuccessful 2021 season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was benched by Frank Reich before getting traded. He is most well-known as the starting quarterback for the Eagles, where he played for four seasons and led the team for part of its 2017 run to the Super Bowl.

He did not start in the playoffs because of an injury, but Nick Foles famously led the team past the New England Patriots to earn Wentz a Super Bowl ring. His career has been intermittently brilliant, but injuries and poor play in recent years will make him difficult to trust for many teams seeking a long-term option.

The Washington Commanders have taken a step in relocating as well as revamping their brand. Spending more than $100 million to buy land in Northern Virginia. This move could be the first step in a plan to build a new stadium as well as retail shops, restaurants, and apartments. According to sources, the potential of the land could lead to the development of a domed stadium, a new practice facility, a music arena and more. A source close to the team also detailed the team’s plan to buy another 65 to 70 acres at a site that is approximately 23 miles from Washington, D.C.

A change of scenery is expected for the newly named Washington Commanders. Many sources close to the team say that the franchise plans to leave FedEx Field, which opened in 1997 and was built by former team owner Jack Cooke. The playing contract expires in 2026, but it is likely that the team will have decided on a new home.  There are still many other sites to consider such as Loundon County, or their original home at RFK Stadium from 1061-1996. However, federal roadblocks stand in the way of them committing early to a permanent site.

Lawmakers in Virginia are keen on making the Old Dominion the new home of the Commanders. Legislators are in talks to authorize money to provide the Commanders with a new stadium.

Any plan would also have to wait until the ongoing investigations involving Commanders owner Dan Snyder have concluded. Congress and the NFL are currently investigating allegations of sexual misconduct within the organization. The District of Columbia and Virginia attorney generals’ offices are also investigating potential financial improprieties regarding the team. Snyder has denied both claims.

The Commanders go into next season with a new name, a new quarterback in Carson Wentz, a new first-round receiver in Jahan Dotson and in the future, a new home.

In an offseason that has already seen numerous quarterback changes, the Indianapolis Colts are now in on the carousel: They’ve traded a third-round pick for Matt Ryan after they sent Carson Wentz packing a few weeks ago to Washington.

The Falcons, in turn, have signed Marcus Mariota as Ryan’s successor.

The 2016 NFL MVP was drafted third overall by the Falcons in 2008 and had spent the entirety of his career in the A-T-L. In 222 games, Ryan, 36, has thrown for nearly 60,000 passing yards and 367 TDs. The 2016 ended, of course, with Atlanta’s infamous 28-3 collapse in the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and the Patriots.

“He is one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league and has spearheaded numerous fourth-quarter, game-winning drives,” Colts head coach Frank Reich said. “Matt will be a fantastic representative for our organization, and I’m excited to get to work with him and the rest of the team this offseason.”

“He has represented this organization with great class, professionalism, and leadership, both on and off the field, over the past 14 years,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. “It is difficult to overstate what he has meant to me personally, our organization, his teammates, and our fans.

“From his first day in the building, Matt has given his all in the pursuit of winning a championship for Atlanta. His arrival in 2008 instantly made us a contender in the NFC and he’s been our quarterback through the most successful era in Falcons history.”

Mariota—the second overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Titans, a team with which he spent five seasons—signed a two-year deal with the Falcons after his stint with the Raiders ended last season.

Colts QB Carson Wentz returned to practice for the first time since undergoing foot surgery in early August after suffering an injury near the start of training camp. Videos from reporters at practice reveal Wentz moving around and throwing the ball without any signs of discomfort.

According to head coach Frank Reich, Wentz is itching to get back on the field. “He’s getting very antsy. Very antsy. He’s wanting to push the envelope, as I would expect,” Reich said. “But he’s gotta be patient and just stay focused on the mental side of it right now and we gotta let things take their course. But at the same time, there’s a time to push things and we’ll keep doing that as it’s appropriate.”

This upcoming season will be an important one for the former Super Bowl champion, who experienced a historic regression in his final year with the Eagles after an excellent three-year stretch from 2017-2019. Wentz relationship with the Eagles organization began to sour after the team drafted Oklahoma star QB Jalen Hurts and reportedly took a turn for the worse after he was benched on December 6, 2020 against the Green Bay Packers.

Indianapolis quarterback Carson Wentz underwent surgery last week on his injured left foot. He is to be sidelined for approximately five to 12 weeks, coach Frank Reich announced.

Wentz had initially held hopes of only resting and rehabbing his foot injury instead of surgery. Wentz wanted to have the possibility to play in the team’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. That is no longer the case as he will undergo surgery.

Wentz participated in two training camps with the team but was held off from the third training session on Friday with a foot injury. Offensive coordinator Marcus Brady noted that Wentz felt a “twinge in his foot” when he rolled out and planted to throw late in Thursday’s practice. But doctors examining the quarterback said that surgery was necessary.

Reich said it’s an old injury, possibly from high school. The foot injury was a broken bone that came loose in Wentz’s foot.

The Colts acquired Wentz during the offseason and reunited him with Reich by giving the Philadelphia Eagles a third-round pick in this year’s draft and a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 draft.

The 28-year-old had wanted to use his time in Indianapolis to revive his career. Last season, with the Eagles, Wentz had one of the worst performances of his career. In 12 games, he was sacked 50 times, threw 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Philadelphia then benched him in favor of Jalen Hurts.

“The job is Jacob’s right now,” Reich told reporters, referring to second-year quarterback Jacob Eason. “He has to prove it, he knows that. Jacob’s in the driver’s seat.” Eason will continue to receive first-team reps with the possibility of starting with Wentz sidelined.

The Philadelphia Eagles are undergoing a rebuilding process.

The Eagles fired head coach Doug Pederson after a disappointing season. In his place, the team hired former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as their new head coach. Philadelphia hired Jonathan Gannon as their new defensive coordinator.

The team traded away starting quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts for a 2021 third-round draft pick and a 2022 conditional second-round pick. The team is shifting towards the Jalen Hurts era, as he will be their starting quarterback. The Eagles also traded up to draft Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith in the 2020 NFL Draft. Philadelphia desperately needed a top-tier wideout so Smith will fit in perfectly with this team. The offense can be pretty good if Hurts performs and running back Miles Sanders can stay healthy.

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Philadelphia Eagles Schedule:

• Week 1: Sun 09/12 at Atlanta Falcons
• Week 2: Sun 09/19 vs San Francisco 49ers
• Week 3: Mon 09/27 at Dallas Cowboys
• Week 4: Sun 10/03 vs Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 5: Sun 10/10 at Carolina Panthers 
• Week 6: Sun 10/14 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
• Week 7: Sun 10/24 at Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 8: Sun 10/31 at Detroit Lions
• Week 9: Sun 11/07 vs Los Angeles Chargers
• Week 10: Sun 11/14 at Denver Broncos
• Week 11: Sun 11/21 vs New Orleans Saints 
• Week 12: Sun 11/28 at New York Giants 
• Week 13: Sun 12/05 at New York Jets 
• Week 14: BYE
• Week 15: Sun 12/19 vs Washington Football Team
• Week 16: Sun 12/26 vs New York Giants
• Week 17: Sun 1/02 at Washington Football Team
• Week 18: Sun 01/09 vs Dallas Cowboys

NFC East: The division title could go to any team within the division. Last season showed how weak the NFC East truly is, as Washington won it with a losing record (7-9). Despite the weak opponents within the division, the Eagles are probably the worst of the four teams. They finished in last place last season with a 4-11-1 record. They may improve slightly, but don’t expect a division title in 2021.

Matchups: The Eagles’ toughest games on their schedule are against the Bucs, Chiefs, Saints and Washington. Aside from those teams, Philadelphia has a generally favorable schedule. Although they will be underdogs in most games this season, most of their contests are winnable.

Overall: The Eagles are not going to be making big noise in the regular season. This season will focus on building young players and seeing if Hurts will emerge as a franchise quarterback.

Prediction: The Eagles will finish with a 6-11 record.

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The Indianapolis Colts will be entering the season with a bit of uncertainty regarding their quarterback spot. Last season, the team had signed Philip Rivers on a one-year deal, and Rivers helped the team make the playoffs again. However, this time the team will be without Rivers, who retired during the offseason.

So Indianapolis tried to resolve the vacant quarterback spot by trading for Carson Wentz. Now there are concerns about having Wentz as the starting quarterback for the Colts. One issue is the inconsistency he had in 2020 with the Eagles. In that season, Wentz threw 15 interceptions and only 16 touchdowns. Wentz will need to get back to his former self and show some consistency. Otherwise, we could be looking at a trainwreck of a season for the Colts. Overall, Wentz will do just fine in Indianapolis, though it may take him a few games to adapt to the offense.

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Indianapolis Colts Schedule:

• Week 1: Sun 09/12 vs Seattle Seahawks
• Week 2: Sunday 09/19 vs Los Angeles Rams
• Week 3: Sun 09/26 at Tennessee Titans
• Week 4: Sun 10/03 at Miami Dolphins
• Week 5: Mon 10/11 at Baltimore Ravens
• Week 6: Sun 10/17 vs Houston Texans
• Week 7: Sun 10/24 at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 8: Sun 10/31 vs Tennessee Titans
• Week 9: Thu 11/04 vs New York Jets
• Week 10: Sun 11/14 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
• Week 11: Sun 11/21 at Buffalo Bills
• Week 12: Sun 11/28 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Week 13: Sun 12/05 at Houston Texans
• Week 14: BYE
• Week 15: Sun 12/19 vs New England Patriots
• Week 16: Sat 12/25 at Arizona Cardinals
• Week 17: Sun 01/02 vs Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 18: Sun 01/09 at Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC South: The Colts are one of the top teams within the division, with the other being the Titans. So it will be either the Colts or the Titans taking the division title this season. However, inconsistency regarding the starting quarterback position will lessen the Colts’ chances of finishing the season as division champs. If Wentz can develop some chemistry with the wide receiver unit, particularly T.Y. Hilton and Michael Pittman Jr., then they will be just fine. They already have an incredibly strong running game. Indianapolis should have no problem against the Texans and Jaguars within the division, but the Titans are an offensive juggernaut.

Matchups: Indianapolis will face a variety of strong teams like the Bills, Bucs, Titans, Ravens and Seahawks. However, after examining the team’s full schedule, it is quite favorable. They will face rebuilding teams and middle-of-the-pack squads like the aforementioned Texans and Jaguars, as well as the Jets, Patriots and Raiders.

Overall: The Colts should have another winning season. They have a fair schedule that is neither hard nor easy. However, one of the most important factors that will determine their season is the ability of a new quarterback.

Predictions: The Colts will finish second in the AFC South with an 11-6 record.

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T.Y. Hilton has no plans to leave his long-time team.

The veteran wide receiver has signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, which includes $8 million guaranteed. This coming season will be the 10th in the NFL for the 31-year-old, all of which he has played as a member of the Colts. In a tweet following the announcement of the deal, Hilton stated that “it’s only right I finish what I started.”

Hilton is a four-time Pro Bowler who has been the No. 1 wideout for the Colts for the majority of his career. Known for his dependability as a younger receiver, Hilton missed only two games in his first five seasons. However, age and injuries have affected his quality of play recently, as he has missed nine games over the past three seasons. In addition to that, despite posting 1,000 yards or more in five seasons, including leading the league with 1,448 in 2016, he has not hit the 1,000-yard mark since 2018. His least productive seasons have been the past two years, with 501 yards in 2019 (10 games played) and 762 yards in 2020 (15 games played).

With the presence of second-year receiver Michael Pittman Jr., it is likely that Hilton will no longer be Indy’s WR1. The Colts are also bringing quarterback Carson Wentz into the mix, who they acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. He will be reunited with his former offensive coordinate Frank Reich, who ran the offense during the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl championship season. It will be interesting to see how Hilton fits in to the offense under this new leadership at the quarterback position.

Carson Wentz‘s time on the Philadelphia Eagles has come to an end today.

The quarterback is heading to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick. If Wentz plays in at least 75% of Indy’s offensive snaps next year, or if he plays in at least 70% and the Colts make the playoffs, then the pick will convert to a first-rounder.

The former No. 2 overall pick in 2016 leaves Philly coming off of his worst season yet. In 2020, Wentz completed just 57% of his passes, threw 15 interceptions and was sacked 50 times (worst in the NFL). On top of that, Wentz’s relationship with the team deteriorated throughout the season, particularly with head coach Doug Pederson. As his performance plummeted and the Eagles continued to lose games, Pederson took more and more control of the offense away from Wentz, and it was clear by the end of the season that Wentz was unable to operate in his head coach’s scheme. This led to him being benched in favor of rookie second-round pick Jalen Hurts, who is expected to step into a full-time starting role for the Eagles in 2021. Wentz eventually requested to be traded from Eagles, and this move marks the confirmation of his inevitable departure.

Nevertheless, this trade holds benefits for both teams. For the Eagles, despite taking a $33.8 million dead-cap hit, they have finally been able to get rid of Wentz’s hefty contract, a four-year $128 million extension, which he signed in June of 2019. For the Colts, Wentz will arrive as the much needed replacement for Philip Rivers, who retired following the 2020 season. In addition, this reunites Wentz with Frank Reich, current head coach of the Colts. Reich was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles in 2017, when Wentz posted MVP caliber numbers until he tore multiple knee ligaments late in the season. Wentz’s play has declined each year since 2017, but the Colts hope that with Reich at the helm, he will return to his rookie season form.

The Philadelphia Eagles are making it clear that they expect a draft pick in return for Carson Wentz.

The Eagles are open to trading their quarterback, but they want at a first-round pick. This is a notice to NFL teams that they will not get the Eagles’ quarterback for cheap. ESPN’s Adam Schefter spoke about the matter on 975 The Fanatic’s John Kincade, Wednesday. Schefter told Kincade and listeners, “They’re not going to trade him unless they get fair value.” Schefter explained more behind Philadelphia’s reasoning. “The Eagles will want strong compensation for a guy, who a few years ago, could have won the NFL MVP, they will want strong compensation.”

Schefter went on to indicate that the quarterback wants to leave the team. The NFL insider stated of the quarterback, “He wants to leave the franchise.” The 28-year-old has been quiet throughout the team’s offseason. The quarterback did not congratulate or speak about the recent hirings made by the team.

A trade for the quarterback is risky for teams. Wentz played and finished the season with one of his worst career performances. The 28-year-old had a measly 2,620 passing yards, 57.4% completion rating, 16 touchdowns, and an abysmal 15 interceptions. He only played in 12 games, so he averaged one interception per game. These numbers were a significant decline to his 2019 season when he had a career-high of 4,039 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

If teams are going to try to trade for the struggling signal caller, they have to be confident that they could help him find his form again. That is no guarantee considering Wentz’s most recent play at the highest level.

The Philadelphia Eagles finally decided to take action and benched their starting quarterback Carson Wentz in the third quarter during Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Wentz has struggled throughout the season as he is playing his worst football in his whole career. He is currently one of the worst quarterbacks in the league as he struggles to find form. Wentz only completed six passes out of 15 tries for only 79 yards.

Wentz was replaced by Jalen Hurts who took over and finished the game. Hurts finished the game with only five completions out of 12 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Eagles lost the game 30-16. The Eagles are currently third in the division and only have three wins and 8 losses so far.

In the post-game interview, Wentz mentioned how upset he is. “It’s frustrating as a competitor and… Just the personality I have, I want to be the guy out there,” he said. “It is what it is, and you know they made the call fo the day.”

The quarterback added that he feels more frustrated about the loss than his benching.

Hurts, on the other hand, is focusing on “working hard every day and putting my best foot forward and get this thing in the right direction, anything to help this team” in response to questions about whether he feels he should start against the New Orleans Saints.

It has not been a great season for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Carson Wentz. The Eagles are at three wins, seven losses and one tie. While Wentz is struggling this season to find form.

Eagles quarterback Wentz is at the lowest point in his career right now. He has been struggling to find his form, and it has impacted the team. Wentz is currently experiencing his worst career numbers. He leads the league in interceptions among quarterbacks with 15. He also leads in sacks with 46, 31st in completion with only 58%, and 30th in yard attempts with 6.02.

Wentz has recognized his struggles and owned up his responsibility to the team. The quarterback admitted it to the team when he addressed them. Doing so has had a positive outlook as the team took it well. Veteran defensive end Brandon Graham said, “The first step is admitting where you’re bad at, and that’s what I love that Carson did. When we talked to the team, he knew he had to own some of the stuff that he’s been doing, and he let us know that he’s working his butt off to make sure that he starts doing a lot of stuff better. And that’s all people want to hear is for you to take ownership of yours and we can move on. That’s how you build relationships: taking ownership of what you do.”

Coach Doug Pederson added his thoughts about Wentz. “He understands that he needs to play better. And for him to stand up and take ownership with the team and quite frankly show vulnerability I think is a sign of growth in any player, and we’ve had several players do that this week,” Pederson said. “It just shows that our young players — and I still consider Carson in that young [category], only five years in is still relatively young in this league — that they’re showing signs of maturity and growth and leadership ability, especially from your quarterback.”

As Philadelphia struggles this season, Pederson has given some playcalling responsibilities to his assistant coaches in an attempt to improve their offense. Pederson said, “If I’m going to be part of the solution to our offensive woes, then I’m going to be part of the solution, whatever that takes and whatever that looks like, whether that be elements of the game plan, calling plays or whatever it might be in-game. But ultimately these are my decisions as we move forward.”

Many athletes like LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick have already spoken out about the death of George Floyd on Monday when a Minneapolis police officer held his knee against Floyd’s neck and killed him in broad daylight. More members of the NFL community are now speaking out on Floyd’s death in Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and tight end, Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz.

Both players took to Twitter to express their thoughts on Floyd’s death Thursday night. Wentz took to Twitter first, he grew up about six hours away from Minneapolis in North Dakota.

Ertz posted soon after Wentz, sharing his thoughts on the situation.

Both players, specifically Wentz, have remained quiet during their respective careers when it comes to social issues. Back in 2017, when then teammate Malcolm Jenkins would raise his fist during the national anthem, showing his allegiance to Kaepernick and what he was fighting for, neither guy really commented on the issue. 

This is a step in the right direction, as so far, the majority of athletes who have spoken out on Floyd’s death have not been white. 

The University of Minnesota has come out and said that they will be severing its ties with the Minneapolis Police Department. The Minnesota Vikings have also issued a statement on the incident, sending their thoughts to Floyd’s family and friends. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life that occurred Monday evening just blocks from our stadium. Everyone in our community deserves the right to feel protected and safe. Our thoughts are with the George Floyd family and all individuals who have been affected by this tragedy.”

The chief medical officer for the NFL called Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz‘s decision to report his concussion “heroic.” Wentz, who was hit in a helmet to helmet play and forced to the ground by Seattle’s Jadeveon Clowney, left the NFC wild-card game where Philadelphia’s season ended with a 17-9 loss.

Dr. Allen Sills serves as the NFL head doctor, having been brought on by commissioner Roger Goodell. Dr. Sills came from Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he served as Professor of Neurological Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. He also founded the Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center.

“I think what Carson Wentz did is heroic and should be highlighted as an example of how an unbelievably skilled and competitive athlete understands the seriousness of concussion injury and is willing to honestly report it and receive the care that he needs independent of his desire and drive to continue to participate in the game,” Sills said.

He continued by adding, “Having a concussion and playing through it is not about toughness. That’s demonstrating a lack of understanding of the severity of the injury. So I applaud Carson Wentz for understanding how serious this injury is and for getting appropriate care that he needs.”

The 27-year old quarterback stayed in the game and threw a couple of passes before reporting symptoms on the sideline. After being examined in the medical tent, he left the field and did not return to the game.

The issue arose of the league’s system for concussion detection and how it seemed broken. Media personnel and fans have argued the system failed since Wentz had to report his symptoms, as opposed to the independent spotters and neurotrauma consultants monitoring the game who failed to spot if Wentz was exhibiting concussive behavior or symptoms.

Dr. Sills disputed the notion that the league’s system failed.

“You have to have people talking to the players,” Sills said. “You want to make the players and their officials and coaches and everyone aware of the symptoms because you’re not always going to see it on video, but yet there will be signs there if you’re looking at everything.”

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

Clowney was not penalized for the late hit and the league hasn’t determined whether he’ll be fined or not.

The Seattle Seahawks (12-5) beat the Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) by a final of 17-9 in Philadelphia on Sunday. This did not come without some controversy, however.

In the first quarter, Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney made head-to-head contact with Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, forcing Wentz down resulting in his departure from the game and his placement on concussion protocol.

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Clowney was not penalized for the hit as referees deemed the helmet contact “incidental.”

“I just told [Clowney] that was a dirty play and he was like, ‘My bad,’ and we just kept playing,” said Eagles left tackle Jason Peters. “I just kept reminding him, stay off my quarterback. I saw the replay and I just told him stay off my quarterback. That’s a dirty, dirty play.”

Josh McCown came in after Wentz was escorted off the field. McCown went 18 of 24 for 174 yards. Running back Miles Sanders saw the most carries with 14 and clocking in 69 yards.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

McCown postgame said, “I didn’t get the job done.”

The Seahawks offense saw a spark as Russell Wilson threw a 53-yard touchdown pass and Marshawn Lynch ran in for a score.

Wilson was 18 of 30 for 325 yards with one touchdown. He also had the most rushing yards with 45 yards on 9 attempts.

“To come back here, back East, it’s a long ways, we were able to do it, pull through”, Wilson said. “We’ve been road warriors and it’s exciting. We’ve got a great defense, too.”

After losing three of their final four games, the Seahawks went to Philadelphia to prove themselves worthy of a continued playoff berth.

The Seahawks now set sights on Green Bay.

“We’re anticipating some snow”, Wilson said with a smile. “They obviously have Aaron, they have a lot of great players, they have a great defensive line.”

The Seahawks will look for a win against the Packers (13-3) as they face a determined Green Bay team and a rowdy Lambeau Field crowd.

The Dallas Cowboys suffered another devastating loss over the weekend, this time coming to the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-9. In what was the battle of two 7-7 teams for the top of the NFC East, both teams saw moments of triumph and defeat, ultimately with the Cowboys suffering the final blow.

A win would have given Dallas a playoff berth, NFC East title and the assurance of at least a .500 season.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had no snaps during the week and went 25 of 44 passes for 265 yards. He had zero touchdowns. Star running back Ezekiel Elliott had a limited showing with 13 carries for just 47 total yards. Wide receiver Amari Cooper had four catches for 24 yards, another weapon of the Cowboys kept in the holster. Missed catches and poorly thrown balls proved to be a weak spot for a star-studded Cowboys offense.

“Frustrating,” Prescott said. “Sat here after every game pretty much, win or loss, and said the good part about it is we control our own destiny. That’s gone.”

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz proved to be a powerhouse for Philadelphia in this game, throwing for 319 yards and completing 31 of 40 passes with one touchdown.

This season has been quite the show surrounding the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones. As the losses began to pile up, many in the media began to throw blame at Jones and head coach Jason Garrett, and now those sentiments are even louder.

“When you get in this spot, you give yourself a chance to be real disappointed. We are,” said Jones. “The fact that we didn’t get any [touchdowns], the fact the game turned out the way it did- they played well. Not a lot to say about anything else other than it’s very disappointing. We all expected to leave here as NFC East champs. We’re not. We’ll just go to Washington.”

Needless to say, Jones is disappointed with his team’s performance as they seek end this nightmare of a season.

The Philadelphia Eagles have had poor luck when it’s come to injuries and their wide receiving corps. So much so, that 40-year old, back-up quarterback Josh McCown was next in line. Coming out of retirement to back up Carson Wentz this season, McCown was ready to suit up as a wide receiver, according to Eagles head coach Doug Pederson. “I was ready to go,” McCown said, “We had the helmet ready to go. The equipment guys were all over it.”

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The Eagles had a huge 23-17 overtime win against the Giants on Monday night. Tight end Zach Ertz caught the game-winning touchdown pass, ending the night with nine receptions for 91 yards with a couple of scores. The second-most targeted Eagle next to Ertz was running back Boston Scott. It seemed like Wentz was not targeting his wide receivers as much as he may have liked, targeting nine players the whole night, only three being wide receivers.

People were wondering why McCown, a 40-year old quarterback, would be the best option to play this spot. McCown’s answer was simple. “As a quarterback, you know the offense.”

McCown is in his 17th NFL season and does have three career catches, for ten yards. The last pass McCown caught in the NFL was on December 3, 2006 in Foxboro where the Lions lost to the Patriots 28-21. He caught two passes for 15 yards from Lions quarterback Jon Kitna.

This latest Eagles injury is with Alshon Jeffery after he suffered a foot injury, shutting down his season in Week 14. As Philly continues to battle for a postseason spot, they do still have solid weapons in Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Miles Sanders and Scott, but their wide receiving corps is something to keep an eye on moving forward.

The Eagles are set to play the Redskins (3-10) in Washington on December 15, which will be aired on FOX.

The NFL season is always filled with unlikely talent that few people could predict to bloom with their teams. This year, the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the clear favorites for a successful season.

With the New York Giants losing Odell Beckham Jr. and continuing to rely on substandard Eli Manning, the Washington Redskins being injury-ridden and rebuilding with Dwayne Haskins, and the Dallas Cowboys being led by the inconsistent Dak Prescott, the Eagles will see themselves as favorites to win the NFC East. The talent they’ve acquired this offseason will manifest that as well.

The Eagles’ backroom staff has been one of the more harder-working franchises this offseason, acquiring bundles of talent in multiple positions. DeSean Jackson returns to the Eagles after his spell with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who acquired him for a 2019 sixth-round draft choice. They signed much-needed LBs in L.J. Fort and former Redskins free-agent Zach Brown. To lessen the workload for RB Clement Corey, the Eagles picked up former Chicago Bear Jordan Howard and drafted Miles Sanders out of Penn State with their second-round pick. The Eagles also gained better protection for Wentz with the selection of Andre Dillard, who has been compared to his fellow tackle counterpart, Jason Peters.

Doug Pederson and his coaching staff have been thinking long term for the past few years under his tenure. Coming into the 2019 season, the Eagles have locked QB Carson Wentz for a four-year extension to his contract that would see him there for the remainder of his prime years. They have signed receivers Alshon Jeffery and Jackson long-term, TE Zach Ertz and defensive linemen Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson as well. The team went 9-7 last year under Nick Foles after Wentz continued to battle through injuries. With a full offseason to prepare, expect Wentz to return to his 2017 form.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019- TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Perhaps the most competitive position for the Eagles is the only position group not mentioned so far, the secondary. The Eagles defense has been built off their secondary as depth is anything but a problem for them. During OTA’s, Sidney Jones and Avonte Maddox started as their corners, but Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills have started for the Eagles before. Maddox seems to have his spot locked for now, as he will be looking to build off his 23-tackle and two-interception rookie season. In the back end, Malcom Jenkins has been their defensive leader for a number of years. Jenkins is seeking more money from his team, which he will surely get. Tre Sullivan, Andrew Sendejo or Rodney McLeod will be competing for retired Corey Graham’s spot during the start of the year.

With a deep roster and plenty of assets locked for the future, the Eagles will have to focus on the smaller, mental things that hurt them last season. For the defense on first down last season, the Eagles gave up an averaged 6.88 yards. Only needing three yards in two other downs is a given for most NFL offenses. Also, the Eagles have fumbled 38 times since 2013, the second-most in the NFL. With new acquired talent in the backfield, RB coach Duce Staley will have a fresh plate to work with.

On Thursday night, The Philadelphia Eagles announced a new long-term contract with QB Carson Wentz. The 26-year-old is entering his prime years in the NFL, and will be a major piece to the Eagles moving forward as the have locked his future for the next four years.

Wentz’s contract contains a worth of $128 million for four years, which comes out to roughly $32 million a season. The contract contains possible bonuses with a $144 million max value, with $107 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This contract is the new NFL record for the most guaranteed amount of money to a player. For the yearly rate, Wentz falls in fourth, with Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson earning $35 million a year, Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger with $34 million a year, and Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers with $33.5 million a year, according to NFL.com

“Can’t even explain to you how excited I am right now to be a part of this great city for this many more years,” Wentz said, via Twitter, according to CBS Sports. “It means the world to me. From the moment I got drafted here, I knew this place was special. I knew they had the most passionate fans in the world in all of sports. I knew we had the opportunity to build something truly special here. To be cemented here for this much longer means the world to me.”

Wentz had a breakout sophomore season in 2017, but then had to be sidelined the final three games of the  season after tearing his ACL. He was a strong candidate for that seasons’ MVP before the injury. The Eagles won the Super Bowl that same season, after backup Nick Foles led the team and won the Super Bowl MVP.

Wentz went to college at North Dakota State and shot up the NFL draft boards during the 2016 offseason for his tremendous arm, height and lateral quickness. The Eagles would later trade up in the draft for him, drafting him second overall. In three total seasons with the Eagles, Wentz has over 10,000 total yards, throwing 70 touchdowns and just 28 interceptions in 40 total starts for the team.

Along with Wentz, the Eagles have secured several veterans on long-term deals, including receivers Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, TE Zach Ertz, and defensive linemen Malik Jackson, Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox.

There are two situations that can bring a wedge down between a teammate and the rest of the roster. One is the aging superstar who hasn’t realized that his body has changed. The other is the hurt player, fully aware of the situation. In the former, the individual can help out his team and be a part of their success. In the other, the individual can either hope that his absence proves his worth or that he isn’t needed for success.

QB Wentz Opens Up In New Interview

When the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII with him out on the bench and then made the playoffs this year without him both times, quarterback Carson Wentz found that he wasn’t as valuable to his team as he might’ve thought. This created a divide within the team. When the Philly Voice published a story about Wentz being a bad teammate, Wentz didn’t outright deny it but he did refute multiple details. Now, he’s admitting that there’s some truth to it.

“I know who I am, first of all. I know how I carry myself. I know I’m not perfect. I know I have flaws,” he said during a recent interview. “So I’m not going to sit here and say it was inaccurate and completely made up. I’m not going to do that. But at the end of the day, I will say our locker room is really close. If there were guys that had issues, in hindsight, I wish we could have just talked about them. But, again, I don’t know how that all happened and everything with that.”

Wentz said he didn’t notice that there was friction building up. He initially tried to figure out who contributed to the story but then decided it didn’t matter.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

“I’ll learn from it and we’ll all learn that A, things shouldn’t kind of come out the way it did, and B, the pieces that I can learn from it and be a better teammate and player and all that stuff I will grow from,” he said. “But other than that, just turn the page.”

The 26-year-old Wentz was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. This year, he threw for 3,074 yards and 21 touchdowns in 11 games before suffering a season-ending back injury. His backup Nick Foles is expected to be franchise-tagged by the team, though most expect him to be traded.