Carson Wentz: 'Not Going To Change Way I Play'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Every time Carson Wentz, the second overall draft pick in this year's NFL Draft, speaks, people seem to gather. Wentz addressed the media on Monday about the hairline fracture in his ribs, which he suffered in his preseason debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 11.
Wentz said through a throng of media gathered around his locker that he is gradually getting better.
He missed almost his entire senior season at North Dakota State healing from a broken right wrist. So he has experience dealing with injuries. Wentz did return to lead the Bison to their fifth-straight NCAA FCS national championship, beating Jacksonville State, running for two touchdowns and throwing for another.
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Despite what seems apparent that he may not play in many games this coming season, interest remains high in everything Wentz does.
Like recovering from the hairline fracture in his ribs.
"I feel good," Wentz said. "It's hard, it's hard, and that's where my faith comes in, with stuff like this. I have to rely on my faith. Dealing with injuries before, and this is on a much smaller scale than last year, it's still mental reps and making the most of opportunities when they come. I want to stay ready and mentally prepared, and it's frustrating as far as being on the field and you want to practice.
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"I get quite a bit [out of mental reps]. As long as you're locked in, and I'm always asking coaches a 100 questions and I'm always trying to understand what's happening. I'm always trying to pretend I'm in there and what I may change. From a mental standpoint, knowing I've dealt with injuries before, it's something you don't want to do, but something I have to deal with and [knowing] what it takes [to] fight through it. I'll be out there sooner than later."
One glaring area, however trivial, seems to be connecting with head coach Doug Pederson.
Pederson doesn't seem to be the type of just make something up—say like Chip Kelly might have tended to do in his whirlwind three-year tour here as Eagles' head coach.
It may be a matter of semantics or just messing up the days.
But it bodes well to know when your quarterback of the future is throwing while nursing an injury and when he hasn't been throwing.
On Monday, while addressing the media, Pederson said Wentz threw on Saturday and threw again briefly on Sunday, when Wentz said he was throwing on Sunday and took Saturday off.
"He threw a little bit pre-practice [on Saturday]," Pederson said. "He threw some during the practice, but not in the drills. He was on the side. Again, he's sore, which is expected. So we're just going to back him down again today, and it's still a day-to-day injury. He won't throw today. He threw Saturday, [he] threw a little bit yesterday, and [he's] sore today. So we'll just keep getting treatment and monitor that."
As for Wentz, he said he didn't throw on Saturday, but did throw on Sunday. Whatever it is, Wentz did maintain one thing, "I'm not going to change the way I play. I'm not going to back away from anything. I'm still learning how to control myself and take care of the ball. It's something that I'm going to keep on doing for the rest of my career."
