Will Carson Wentz Or Nick Foles Start For Philadelphia In Week 1? Eagles' Decision Coming Soon

Nearly a week before they are set to open the 2018 NFL season on “Thursday Night Football” against the Atlanta Falcons, the Philadelphia Eagles have not named a starting quarterback. It will be either Carson Wentz or Nick Foles that’s under center for the defending Super Bowl champions, but it’s anyone’s guess regarding which player will take the team’s first snap.

Wentz has yet to play in a game since he suffered a torn ACL on Dec. 10 against the Los Angeles Rams that ended his season. The third-year signal caller has been splitting reps with Foles in practice, but he still hasn’t been cleared for contact by team doctors.

Head coach Doug Pederson wasn’t thrilled Sunday when he was, once again, asked by reporters when Wentz would be cleared. Pederson said Tuesday that the team would know shortly after Thursday’s preseason game with the New York Jets if it would be Wentz or Foles that leads the team in Week 1.

“I don't know how many times I can answer this question,” Pederson told reporters Sunday. “When they clear him, he'll be cleared. I'm not going to put myself in a box, I'm not going to put my quarterback in a box. I'm not going to do that. And I'm not going to go on a limb and I'm not going to say that. So either ask it a different way or otherwise you're going to get the same answer.”

It would make sense to resist the urge to start Wentz in the season opener, considering he’s coming off such a serious injury. Wentz was the frontrunner to win the NFL MVP award before going down in Week 14 last year, and Philadelphia plans for him to be their starting quarterback for the next decade-plus.

The Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl without Wentz as Foles played the best football of his career. He defeated the Falcons in the Divisional Playoffs and can certainly lead Philadelphia to another victory over Atlanta next week. Peter King of NBC Sports surmised on Monday’s edition of “The Dan Patrick Show” that Wentz wouldn’t return until Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Foles’ performance this preseason seems to have increased Philadelphia’s need for Wentz to make his way back onto the field soon. The backup has completed 16 of 26 pass attempts for 171 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, failing to lead the Eagles on any scoring drives. He’s looked nothing like the Super Bowl MVP that had a passer rating north of 100.0 in all three of last year’s postseason starts.

Foles had a 79.5 passer rating in the 2017 regular season. Wentz threw for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games.