Philadelphia Eagles committed to Carson Wentz, says head coach Doug Pederson
Wednesday 16 January 2019 07:45, UK
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has moved to put an end to speculation about the team's quarterback situation next year, saying "Carson Wentz is the quarterback going forward".
Pederson and Eagles vice-president of football operations Howie Roseman held a news conference amid speculation about the status of back-up Nick Foles.
Foles, last year's Super Bowl MVP, led the Eagles into the playoffs for a second consecutive season in place of the injured Wentz.
The 29-year-old Foles said Monday that he "would love to lead a team" as a starter next season but Pederson says the team will stick with the No 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Wentz.
"Carson Wentz is the quarterback going forward," Pederson said Tuesday. "And in Nick's case, listen, we'd love to have everybody back throughout the roster, but as I've said many times, it's not about one guy, it's about the team, and we are going to do what's best for the team."
The Eagles hold a $20m option on Foles for 2019 but the quarterback can buy it out for $2m to become a free agent, barring a franchise tag.
"We would love to keep Nick Foles," Roseman said Tuesday. "You talk about a guy we drafted here and we've grown incredibly close with. I don't know a team that wouldn't want to have Nick Foles on their roster.
"Certainly as we go into the substance of those discussions, we haven't had them yet, but there's no question we love having Nick Foles as an Eagle in Philadelphia and we'd love to keep him."
Foles, who turns 30 on Sunday, took over last year after Wentz tore his ACL and LCL, leading the team to the Super Bowl title against the New England Patriots.
Foles took over again this season after it was discovered that Wentz had a stress fracture in his back.
The Eagles qualified for the postseason as an NFC wild card, defeated the Bears in Chicago before being eliminated by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
"We have a lot of confidence in Carson and his ability to be our quarterback and to hopefully be a 19-game starter when we look at the season and what we're trying to do," Roseman said.
