The Carson Wentz era is underway.
Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the spring, will start the season opener on Sunday, according to head coach Doug Pederson. “We drafted him to take the reigns,” Pederson said. The team, of course, traded away incumbent starter Sam Bradford to the Vikings on Saturday.
Wentz is completely healthy after suffering broken ribs and worked with the first team in practice on Monday.
Pederson said he talked to the rest of his staff this weekend and everyone thinks Wentz is ready to be the starter.
Because of the injury, Wentz played in just one preseason game -- the opener -- this summer. Wentz was on the field for 39 snaps against the Bucs. He completed 12 of 24 passing attempts for 89 yards and an interception. He also ran three times for 15 yards.
What has Wentz done to impress de facto general manager Howie Roseman, at least enough to pull off a blockbuster on Saturday?
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"It starts with his attention to detail; the way he goes about his business," Roseman said. "But at the same time, we rely on the people who are around him all the time. That starts with our head coach and it goes to our offensive coordinator and our quarterbacks coach. They’re in the meeting rooms; they’re with him on the field when our other quarterbacks are playing; they’re in his ear when he’s practicing; they go through the thought process with him; and they’ve been around some great ones.
"We’re fortunate to have those guys, along with our entire coaching staff, and we rely on what they’re hearing and seeing as well. But certainly our interaction with him and our discussions with him, he’s come a long way, even since we got him in April."
