Eagles Not Expected To Sign QB
The Eagles are not expected to sign a veteran quarterback to back up Nick Foles, ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter). Instead, the team will continue to deploy Nate Sudfeld as the No. 2 signal-caller.
Per Caplan, the Eagles have been so impressed with Sudfeld in practice that, even though he has never played in a regular season game, they believe he would do well if he were pressed into action. The Indiana product was drafted by the division-rival Redskins in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, but he failed to make Washington’s roster out of the preseason. Philadelphia has apparently liked Sudfeld for some time, as they gave him a generous practice squad salary and a two-year contract after he was cut by the Redskins.
The Eagles, of course, were forced to put Carson Wentz on IR earlier this week after he tore his ACL in last week’s win over the Rams, which put a serious damper on their championship aspirations. Nonetheless, team owner Jeffrey Lurie told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that his team invested a lot of money in the backup quarterback position for a reason (Foles signed a two-year, $11MM deal with $7MM guaranteed this offseason, putting him among the highest-paid pure backups in the league).
Lurie said that Foles thrived in Philadelphia under then-head coach Chip Kelly, when the talent surrounding him was not nearly as strong as it is now, so he expects Foles to perform well the rest of this season. It sounds as if he also expects Sudfeld to do well should that become necessary.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/14/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Rolan Milligan
- Waived: CB Adairius Barnes
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Tyrone Holmes, G Kaleb Johnson
- Waived: DT Rickey Hatley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Bryce Treggs
- Waived: WR Rashard Davis
Giants Eyeing Eliot Wolf, Nick Caserio For GM
Although former Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman is considered the favorite for the Giants’ GM position, the club also has other candidates in mind. Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf and Patriots vice president of player personnel Nick Caserio are on New York’s radar as it seeks to replace Jerry Reese, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
[RELATED: Giants To Begin GM Interviews Next Week]
Wolf, 35, has long been considered a future general manager, but never actually interviewed for an opening until this year (partially because Green Bay denied permission for him to meet with Philadelphia and Detroit in recent hiring cycles). Although he was viewed as a strong contender for the 49ers’ GM job this offseason, Wolf ultimately accepted a new contract with the Packers. He subsequently interviewed with the Colts.
Caserio, who has spent the entirety of his 17-year NFL career in New England, has been linked to other vacancies in the past, but has never shown much willingness to leave Foxborough. Since 2014, he’s declined an offer from the Dolphins and an interview from the 49ers in order to remain with the Patriots. However, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com recently indicated Caserio is “willing to listen” to general manager proposals, and noted the Giants job could hold particular interest.
Each of the candidates for the New York gig could have potential head coaches in mind: a source tells Florio that Gettleman or Wolf could attempt to hire Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, while Caserio could unsurprisingly look at Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/12/17
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated to return from injured reserve: QB Jeff Driskel
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jets‘ practice squad: OL Geoff Gray
- Waived: DE Tyrone Holmes, WR Bryce Treggs
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted to active roster: DE Isaac Rochell
New York Giants
- Signed off Chiefs‘ practice squad: OL Damien Mama
New York Jets
- Promoted to active roster: RB Akeem Judd
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB/DE Bryan Braman
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted to active roster: DT Garrison Smith
- Waived: DT Rodney Coe
- Waived from injured reserve: T Justin Senior
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted to active roster: LB Riley Bullough
- Waived: CB Deji Olatoye
Eagles Not Interested In Colin Kaepernick
Despite losing starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a torn ACL, the Eagles are not interested in signing free agent Colin Kaepernick, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link).
Scheme fit, salary, and other on-field factors don’t seem to play much of role in Philadelphia’s stance, per Rapoport, who indicates that it’s Kaepernick’s collusion lawsuit against the NFL that is dissuading the Eagles (and likely other clubs) from inking Kaepernick. The lawsuit, which alleges that the league’s owners have conspired to keep Kaepernick out of the NFL, was reportedly filed with the hope that it would lead to the termination of the current collective bargaining agreement. If the Eagles were to sign Kaepernick, he would withdraw the suit, his agent confirms to Rapoport.
Kaepernick, of course, originated kneeling during the national anthem as a form of silent protest during the 2016 season, and has since been unable to land an NFL contract. While Kaepernick certainly doesn’t fit every offense in the league, it’s difficult to argue that his social activism hasn’t played at least some role in his failure to earn a roster spot.
With Wentz soon heading to injured reserve, the Eagle will have only two quarterbacks on their roster: Nick Foles, who will become the club’s new starter, and Nate Sudfeld, who has never attempted a pass in the NFL. Philadelphia does not currently have a quarterback on its practice squad.
Eagles Place Carson Wentz On IR
The Eagles have officially placed quarterback Carson Wentz on injured reserve. This was the expected outcome after the Eagles learned that Wentz suffered a torn ACL. 
[RELATED: Eagles’ Sidney Jones To Practice This Week]
For now, Nick Foles will take over at quarterback with Nate Sudfeld as his backup. Despite some calls for the Eagles to consider the likes of Colin Kaepernick and Tony Romo, it doesn’t appear that they’ll make a splashy signing. In fact, they might not add anyone to the QB depth chart. In the 48 hours that have passed since Wentz’s injury, the team has not scheduled a signal caller for a workout.
The Eagles are a mortal lock for a first-round bye and have a high probability of claiming the top seed in the NFC, but they no longer seem quite as fearsome without the former No. 2 overall pick under center. We’ll get a better idea of what Foles is capable of when the Eagles face the Giants on Sunday.
Eagles’ Carson Wentz Done For Season
The Eagles announced that Carson Wentz is done for the season with an ACL tear. This was what the Eagles feared when Wentz exited Sunday’s game against the Rams. 
On Sunday, Wentz threw four touchdown passes and set the franchise record for touchdown passes in a season. After throwing 33 TDs this year against seven interceptions and positioning himself as one of the league’s top quarterbacks, Wentz’s year is over. The fear for many Eagles fans is that this may end the team’s Super Bowl hopes as well.
A familiar face will now take over as the starting quarterback. Nick Foles, who entered the game upon Wentz’s exit, will be the new starter, coach Doug Pederson confirmed. Nate Sudfeld, meanwhile, will be the team’s No. 2 QB. Pederson said that he has yet to talk to GM Howie Roseman about signing a No. 3 QB.
Although Wentz looked solid as a rookie, few expected this kind of leap from 2016’s No. 2 overall pick. Wentz threw for nearly 3,330 yards in 13 games and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ fourth-best quarterback in the entire NFL, behind only Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and Russell Wilson. Foles had an impressive run of his own in Philadelphia, but he has yet to replicate his Pro Bowl season of 2013.
The Eagles, who have clinched the NFC East championship, have three regular season games to go against the Giants, Raiders, and Cowboys. They have a 98% chance of a first-round bye (according to the New York Times‘ odds calculator), so there’s not much on the line in these final three contests. However, these games will be crucial in order for the team to gel with Foles under center.
Eagles’ Sidney Jones To Practice This Week
Eagles rookie cornerback Sidney Jones will begin practice this week, a source tells Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jones suffered a torn Achilles in March and has yet to see the field. 
Jones has been eligible to start practicing since the beginning of Week 7, but he has not been healthy enough to resume football activities. This is a major step forward for the Washington product, though it’s still not clear if he will be activated within the three-week window. It’s possible that the Eagles are looking to get Jones some valuable practice reps as the regular season winds down in order to give him a head start on his offseason training.
Jones fell to the Eagles at No. 43 he suffered an Achilles tear during the final rep of his pro day. At the time, it was believed Jones could get back on the field in October or November. Still, the Eagles believe that Jones has first-round caliber talent. And, with an NFC-leading 11-2 record, it’s not like the Eagles regret taking the long view with their second-round choice.
The Eagles currently have four true cornerbacks on the roster in Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson, Ronald Darby, and Rasul Douglas.
Initial Carson Wentz Tests Don’t Reveal Complete ACL Tear
The Eagles’ postgame celebration was not exactly indicative of a team that clinched the NFC East and its first 11-win season in eight years, with Carson Wentz‘s reported ACL tear understandably affecting the mood. But the team is holding out hope its breakout star quarterback didn’t suffer a full tear.
Initial tests on Wentz’s damaged left knee did not “definitively” reveal a complete tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
While Monday’s MRI will provide a clearer picture and play a big part in shaping the Eagles’ late-season outlook, Rapoport notes the team isn’t giving up on the possibility this isn’t a season-ending malady.
A previous NFL.com report indicated the Eagles did believe Wentz’s season was over, and multiple other sources reported the team fears the worst for Wentz. Rapoport reports the Eagles believe Wentz sustained an ACL injury; they just aren’t certain it was a full tear at this juncture.
Of course, even a partial tear would surely induce a discussion from the team about shutting down its 24-year-old dynamo anyway.
Wentz’s knee injury became worrisome when trainers felt it was loose upon examination, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The loose ACL is sign it’s torn, Dr. David Chao of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets, adding concern for Wentz’s left LCL should exist as well. Wentz played four plays after suffering the left knee injury and walked to the locker room, but the MVP candidate was taken out of the Los Angeles Coliseum on a cart, per Fox NFL (Twitter link).
The Eagles’ division-clinching mood was indeed “subdued” as they await word on the MRI, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes.
A similar sequence of reports emerged last December when Ryan Tannehill was believed to have suffered a full ACL tear only to have the ensuing MRI reveal a partial tear. However, that may not be the most encouraging sign considering Tannehill did not play for the Dolphins again that season, saw his offseason largely marred by this injury and is missing all of this season because of a subsequent ACL tear.
Eagles Concerned Carson Wentz Tore ACL
The Eagles are concerned Carson Wentz suffered a torn ACL during the third-quarter sequence that ended his game, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The Associated Press also is reporting this diagnosis, adding (via Twitter) the star passer will have an MRI on Monday to confirm it. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports the Eagles believe Wentz’s season is over.
Wentz injured his left knee on an awkward-looking play, and Fox’s Erin Andrews reported team officials left an examination on the MVP candidate shaking their heads (Twitter link via Albert Breer of SI.com). Nick Foles took over for Wentz, whom the team immediately declared out for the game after he went to the visitors’ locker room.
Schefter adds that as Wentz exited the field shortly after, his left knee buckled to induce the locker room trip. (Twitter link). Wentz remained in the game for four plays after this hit and threw a touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery, helping the visitors to a 43-35 victory in a key NFC game.
This would obviously be a crushing blow for an Eagles team that’s authored its best season since the franchise’s 2004 NFC title campaign.
Wentz threw four touchdown passes against the Rams and set the franchise record for touchdown passes in a season; he now has 33 while having thrown only seven interceptions. The second-year passer has made a tremendous leap from his rookie season and stands as one of the most important players in the NFL presently.
The North Dakota State product has already more than doubled his touchdown-pass output from his rookie season, and if these reports are accurate, will see a brutal end to a breakout slate and a lengthy rehab process. It also continues what’s been a vicious year for quarterback health around the league.
The Eagles clinched the NFC East championship with their win and have won 11 games for the first time since Donovan McNabb‘s last full season as the starter, in 2009. But Monday’s impending MRI could make this a muted celebration for the NFC’s current No. 1 seed.