NFL writer dishes on Carson Wentz and Philadelphia Eagles young stars
There’s a small bit of hype that’s beginning to settle in around Carson Wentz and some of these young Philadelphia Eagles, and the national media can’t stop talking about it.
For several weeks now, there’s a phrase that’s been popping up around social media that seems to have caught on, ‘Carson and the kids’. The Philadelphia Eagles have seemingly been undermanned since Mike Wallace went down in Week 2 of the 2018 NFL season. If you’ll remember Carson Wentz didn’t start that season either (or finish it).
Maybe it’s some bad karma from ‘The Body Bag Game’ or Buddy Ryan and those ‘Bounty Bowls’, but Philly just can’t seem to catch a break on the injury front. One guy comes back. Three others go down.
Jordan Howard‘s been ‘day-to-day’ for a month now. Nelson Agholor is out. So is DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery. Lane Johnson‘s been dealing with that ankle, and off Ronald darby goes to the IR. As a result, it seems like ‘Carson and the kids’ will take answer the call again. Right now, it looks like Philly will walk into MetLife Stadium in Week 17 with Greg Ward, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Robert Davis, and Deontay Burnett as their wide receivers.
Hopefully, Zach Ertz is okay, and if so, he and Richard Rodgers (who was signed on Tuesday) can provide some veteran leadership for Dallas Goedert and Josh Perkins. Miles Sanders and Boston Scott will continue to help stabilize Wentz’s backfield.
None of us saw this coming, but look at what the Eagles have done. They’ve won three straight games, and it’s a fact that isn’t lost on anyone. Throw Peter King in that mix who led with Philly’s turnaround in his Football Morning in America column for NBC Sports this past Monday.
Here are a few of the highlights.
"It’s Dec. 23, and Wentz is not in a back brace, or gimping around with a surgically repaired knee… So much about this crazy Eagles run from 5-7 three weeks ago to 8-7 and a firm grip on the NFC East title seems like the football gods paying back Wentz. Think about it: Hurt in December in two straight serendipitous seasons. The Eagles, in a show of faith, extended his deal for four years at $32 million per in July. The early returns were depressing, mostly. Slumping and wholly inconsistent, Wentz loses at home to the Lions, gets humiliated at Dallas, can’t throw worth a darn in losses to New England and Seattle, and starts December with a desultory loss at Miami."
Interested yet? Oh, it gets better.
"Since that rainy (and) corny halftime revelation in the first Giants game, Wentz is 3-0, has put up 74 points, has completed 71 percent of his passes, with zero turnovers and six TDs. He’s who the Eagles drafted, who the Eagles paid top dollar. We’re entering Week 17, at the pesky Giants, and a win means Wentz will play in his first playoff game at home. His first playoff game, period."
Peter King seems to be excited. So are Eagles fans How does Wentz respond to all of this? He does so exactly as you thought he might.
"I mean, this is . . . it’s God’s plan. This is what I expect to be doing every year. I haven’t been playing in these games in a while because of injuries. So thankful to be in a playoff-type game, the kind of game I came here to play in. I expect to be playing in December and helping our team get to the playoffs. I’m trying to make the most with what God’s given me."
Don’t look now, but the ‘Wentz Wagon’ seems to have gotten a tuneup. 15 games are in the books. One game remains. We expect ‘Carson and the kids’ to be ready.