Carson Wentz Takes A Nice First Step In Eagles Debut
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — The wrapping came off a little sooner than expected—with 79 seconds left in the first half, to be exact.
When Carson Wentz trotted on to the field with 1:19 remaining in the second quarter, a roar rose from the curious crowd at Lincoln Financial Field Thursday night in a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This is who the Eagles' rabid fanbase wanted to see. They were going to finally get a glimpse of their man.
And Wentz didn't disappoint, either.
His overflowing energy came out as soon as he got on the field. But first, guard Andrew Gardner jumped offside to preempt Wentz's first NFL snap.
Then it happened. Wentz threw a pass. It was intended for Nelson Agholor. It was high—the kind of pass you would expect from a rookie carrying high expectations and who yearns to prove himself—but catchable.
Agholor didn't come down with it.
The following play, Wentz zipped a perfect pass to a breaking Zach Ertz down the middle for a 19-yard gain and you can suddenly feel the tension leave the rookie's body. Wentz was back in his element.
Wentz showed a good command in the pocket. He's light years more athletic than Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel. And he also seems to throw well when he is on the run.
If Wentz had issues, it came with his delivery. The threw a number of passes high, including an interception by Tampa's Isaiah Johnson at the Bucs' 3 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.
On the turnover, Wentz felt the pocket closing around and he was guilty of panicking. He tried to hit Paul Turner crossing over the middle—but again, he overthrew him.
Wentz finished the game completing 12 of 24 for 89 yards, with an interception that was his fault. He also carried the ball three times for 15 yards, including taking a big hit from Tampa's Javien Elliot, getting upended at the Bucs' 24. Wentz got up slowly, causing Eagles' fan to take a collective deep breath as their prized second overall pick got back on his feet and shook himself free of the tingling feeling that no doubt was coursing through his body.
Later in the fourth, Wentz took a jolt from Channing Ward and got back up.
Wentz not only proved he is the far better athlete than his Eagle quarterback counterparts, he also proved he's far more durable.
With 3:52 to play, Eagles' coach Doug Pederson wasn't about to take any chances and pulled Wentz for McLeod Bethel-Thompson and so went Wentz's first night in an NFL uniform.
It was a preseason game on a Thursday night in mid-August, but Wentz wore the stern, eyes-narrowed demeanor of someone leading a team that was playing for their postseason lives in November.
It's probably that underlying attitude that attracted the Eagles to Wentz in the first place.
Wentz didn't look like the next coming of Joe Montana, but he didn't look like he was intimidated by the atmosphere, either. If anything, he seemed like he wanted to drink even more in.
