Eagles Injury Update: Carson Wentz back in 11-on-11s next week

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Carson Wentz hasn’t participated in 11-on-11 drills since Saturday, July 28, the third day of training camp. 

That’s likely going to change next week. 

The coaching staff had backed off from Wentz in full-team drills because they were happy with what they saw from him during those early 11-on-11s and wanted to minimize any extra risk that having him out there in those situations would create as he recovers from ACL and LCL surgery. 

According to the plan — as secretive as the Eagles have kept it — Wentz expects to be back in 11-on-11s next week, an obvious good sign as he continues to keep his goal of being ready to play in Week 1. 

Doug Pederson said that he would ideally get to see Wentz in 11-on-11s for a week before he plays in a game. This new revelation would give Wentz three weeks in full-team drills before the opener on Sept. 6. 

Still, as Wentz said on WIP Tuesday morning, it’s “going to be close” as to whether or not he starts Week 1. 

“That’s what I felt really offseason,” Wentz said after today’s practice. “We’ve talked about it a ton. That’s been my goal. It’s no secret that it’s going to be close. We’ve seen where I’m at in camp and hopefully next week doing 11-on-11. I think, naturally, it’s going to be close. Ultimately, it won’t be my call, the coach’s call, ultimately, it’ll be up to the doctors.” 

Wentz said he’s no more or less optimistic than he was at the start of training camp about his chances to play Week 1. That’s probably a good sign, that things are progressing according to plan. 

Even though Wentz will be back in full-team drills next week, he still won’t be cleared for contact. That will be the last hurdle to get over. Wentz said his knee has responded well all training camp. 

What does he want to show Pederson during 11-on-11s next week?

“I think hopefully just show him that I look comfortable and I look confident,” he said. “And I know I will. The reps I have gotten, I feel confident in both my knee and this team and the offense and everything. Hopefully, I can just jump back into where I left off.”

In other injury news, Pederson said he wasn’t going to comment on a report that Alshon Jeffery could possibly start the season on PUP. Then he commented that the team is monitoring Jeffery and is happy with where he’s at.

“Not sure where that came from,” Pederson said of the report. 

Nelson Agholor, Corey Clement, Donnel Pumphrey, Josh Adams, Markus Wheaton, Mack Hollins, Asantay Brown and Chandon Sullivan all missed practice. 

Pederson said Agholor and Clement are dealing with “lower body” injuries and they are resting them as they get ready for Week 1.

I asked Agholor if there’s a chance he’d miss one. After laughing, here’s what he said: 

“I’m gonna let coach answer that, but you know me. I do what I need to do.” 

All those guys listed above aren’t expected to play in Thursday night’s preseason game, but Nick Foles should make his 2018 preseason debut. Foles has been back at practice this week after some neck spasms kept him out for the preseason opener.

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