In Philadelphia, the notion that a starting quarterback can’t lose his job due to injury went out the window four years ago, when Mike Vick supplanted a concussed Kevin Kolb. Last year, Nick Foles’ performance while Vick was injured made Foles the starter. And, necessarily, the next guy who possibly would lose his job while injured.
With Foles now injured, it appears that Mark Sanchez could do to Foles what Foles did to Vick and what Vick did to Kolb.
In fact, Foles may have lost his job even without a cracked clavicle. According to Mark Eckel of NJ.com, the Eagles already were changing their opinion on Foles before the injury.
“I think [G.M.] Howie [Roseman] is looking at quarterbacks,” an unnamed league source told Eckel. “He’s kind of soured on Foles, and I don’t think he’s alone. The organization isn’t sold that he’s the guy going forward.”
While Roseman holds the title of G.M., coach Chip Kelly makes the call. And plenty of speculation remains that Kelly would love to find a way to finagle Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Regardless of who the Eagles get, it’s now clear why Kelly resisted anointing Foles last season, when he made a major splash in his second year with 28 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, including seven touchdown tosses in one game. This season, Foles threw 13 touchdowns and 10 picks before breaking his collarbone.
At a minimum, it’s safe to say the Eagles won’t be throwing millions at Foles in the offseason, when he becomes eligible for a new contract. Some of that money could go to Sanchez. Or to someone who currently doesn’t play for the Eagles, or in the NFL at all.
Regardless, Kelly has shown that, like his predecessor, the Eagles coach knows how to get the most of out his quarterback, whoever it may be. It may not be Foles moving forward.
