Why the 49ers aren’t overlooking Eagles QB Carson Wentz, despite his recent struggles
It’s not hyperbolic to say Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles has been one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks through three games in 2020.
His 63.9 passer rating is dead last among starters, his six interceptions are tied for the most and his 5.6 yards per attempt ranks 33rd among those who qualify. That mark is worse than the New York Giants’ Daniel Jones (6.2) and the Jets’ Sam Darnold (5.9), whom the 49ers faced in their last two games.
Naturally, boo-happy fans in Philadelphia are calling for Wentz to ride pine in favor of backup Jalen Hurts, the recent second-round draft pick from Oklahoma who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season.
But don’t tell that to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. He believes Wentz could turn things around quickly, perhaps starting Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium when the struggling Eagles (0-2-1) look to break into the win column. Philadelphia is visiting the Bay Area after tying the Cincinnati Bengals, also 0-2-1, in Week 3.
“He was the best player in the league the year they won the Super Bowl,” Shanahan said, referencing Philadelphia’s 2017 championship season. “I know his numbers aren’t great this year and I know a lot of people are saying things about him, but when I watched the film, I’d see Carson Wentz. He’s a guy who can make a lot of plays.”
Added safety Jimmie Ward: “He can pass, he can use his feet, he looks off the safeties, he trusts his wide receivers. ... I’m trying to think of something this quarterback can’t do. He’s just great.”
Indeed, Wentz was a leading MVP candidate throughout the majority of the 2017 regular season. But he tore his ACL in December just before Philadelphia’s playoff run and was replaced by Nick Foles, who outdueled Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in a classic Super Bowl performance to earn the Eagles their first and only Lombardi Trophy. In 2018, after reclaiming the starting job, Wentz fractured vertebrae in his back and only started 11 games.
Last year marked the first time since Wentz’s rookie campaign in 2016 in which he played all 16 regular-season contests. The former No. 2 overall draft pick threw for over 4,000 yards despite the receiving corps getting banged up throughout. The Eagles were one-and-done in the playoffs, losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks, after winning the downtrodden NFC East with a 9-7 record.
So it’s easy to see why Eagles fans might be frustrated with their quarterback who isn’t living up to the expectations created by his 2017 season, when he looked like he might ride a Hall of Fame trajectory and bring multiple Super Bowls to a franchise that had none.
But the Eagles are also dealing with injuries to their pass catchers. Recent first round pick, receiver Jalen Reagor, is on injured reserve with a thumb injury. No. 2 tight end Dallas Goedert just went on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Cal alum DeSean Jackson is day-to-day with a hamstring injury and the team’s No. 1 receiver, Alshon Jeffery, who hasn’t played since Dec. 9, returned to practice last week while recovering from a surgically repaired Lisfranc injury to his foot.
Their offensive line has lost two high-quality starters, left tackle Andre Dillard and guard Brandon Brooks, to season-ending injuries, which has led to some shaky habits from Wentz in the pocket.
“I think Carson is working through some things,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said on a Wednesday conference call. “We haven’t had the complement of starters where we’ve been missing Alshon Jeffery for obviously the first three games, and we don’t know the status of DeSean Jackson yet. No Dallas Goedert. Some of the guys he’s used to throwing to may not be available, so it becomes a little bit harder.
“That’s where confidence comes in. And then when you execute, and you execute well, you begin to eliminate the turnovers and the mistakes that have been plaguing us the first three games.”
While the Eagles are hoping their quarterback can climb out of his funk and help the team contend for another division crown (the Washington Football Team and Dallas Cowboys lead the division at 1-2), the 49ers are feeling good about their quarterback situation, even if starter Jimmy Garoppolo misses his second consecutive game due to a high ankle sprain.
Backup Nick Mullens has stepped in admirably, throwing for 343 yards in a Week 3 blowout of the Giants while joining Joe Montana as the only other 49ers quarterback to throw for at least 220 yards in nine consecutive starts.
Pederson, who joked about going through the grinder of the local media in Philadelphia, almost sounded envious of his upcoming opponent’s quarterback situation.
“I feel like San Francisco’s blessed (with) probably two starters, quite frankly,” said Pederson, a former backup quarterback before going into coaching. “You can see that in the way (Mullens) plays and he doesn’t make mistakes. It’s rare that you see a poor decision, a bad throw, something like that on tape. He’s just constantly processing the information, doing the right thing with the football, helping his team win and just letting the offense work for him. That’s what you see in him.”
