Philadelphia Eagles 2020 training camp profile: QB Carson Wentz

For the Philadelphia Eagles, the goal is to keep Carson Wentz vertical.

Heading into the 2020 NFL regular season, the questions are the same as they were somewhere around 365 days ago. Can Carson Wentz stay healthy? Is this the year that he wins that playoff game? Believe it or not, it’s already Year 5 of his era, and though one goal the Philadelphia Eagles set for themselves has been conquered, hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, they did so without QB1 on the field.

Still, they never would have found themselves sitting at the big boy’s table had the “Wentz Wagon” not driven them to the ball and set the said table. They won’t be back until QB1 leads them there either. This Eagles offense runs through him.

Here’s your 2019 season review for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.

After ending both the 2017 and 2018 Eagles seasons on the team’s IR (injured reserve), every time Wentz goes down in a game setting, there’s an uncomfortable silence until he peels himself off of the turf. “11” protected himself better in 2019 than in years past and completed the full 16-game slate before, well, leaving the Wild Card Game early in the first quarter with a concussion.

That one isn’t his fault. No man’s built to withstand having Jadeveon Clowney go “Hulk Smash” on the back of his head while he’s in a defenseless position. Even with that being said, before Philly’s run ended in what-if fashion, “11” had silenced many of the doubters.

Wentz completed 63.9 percent of his passes and threw for 4,039 yards and 27 touchdowns despite only having all three of his top receivers available for four quarters in the first game of the season. You’ve seen the stats in relation to what he accomplished and what he was missing 200 times by now. If you don’t get that this guy’s a phenomenal talent, we can’t help you, but it’s starting to become obvious. He’s never going to get the respect he deserves until he wins a Super Bowl.

Okay, Philadelphia Eagles fans. Here’s your 2020 season outlook.

Sure, this was said last year, but heading into 2020, Wentz has the best collection of weapons that he’s had in an Eagles jersey. Who knows when Alshon Jeffery will be back, but DeSean Jackson is fine. Philly also drafted Jalen Reagor, and Miles Sanders and Boston Scott return to rejoin him in the Eagles backfield once the games begin to count against the win-loss total.

Went’s two most memorable and season-ending injuries occurred with him trying to freelance, so it was never an issue with a protection breakdown. That doesn’t mean Philly didn’t need to add to their depth along the offensive line. It’s hard not to ignore the absences of Jason Peters and Brandon Brooks, but Philly did add both of Auburn’s starting tackles from a season ago in the most recent draft.

Expect Wentz to return to his 2017 MVP-level form. The “Birds” have improved their roster, and they have some nice options potentially waiting in the wings in the form of guys like Quez Watkins, John Hightower, Michael Warren, and Adrian Killins. Dare we say Wentz breaks his own franchise record for passing touchdowns in a single season and throws for 5,000 yards? That’s our bold prediction.

Here’s the prediction for how his Philadelphia Eagles training camp looks.

With training camp being altered, it’s going to be hard for everyone to get into game shape, so we may see Wentz play a series in a preseason game, assuming there are still preseason games, but you won’t see much of him. Coach Pederson figures to stick to last year’s formula, meaning he’ll rest the vets and play the young guys.

It’s hard to blame him. How else is he going to evaluate the young guys with a shortened camp and preseason? Don’t expect to see much of “11” until Week 1 of the regular season.