How Eagles Players Responded To That Report About Carson Wentz

PHILADELPHIA, PA — With the Eagles' season over and an improbable but ultimately unsuccessful run to defend their Super Bowl title over with it, some are beginning to turn a critical eye back to the past season.

A recent report in Philly Voice, citing more than half a dozen anonymous sources, laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Carson Wentz. The sources characterized Wentz as "selfish," refusing to run the same offense he ran in 2017 (under coaches Frank Reich and John DeFilippo, who each left for new jobs prior to the 2018 season). The report said part of his refusal was because he didn't want to "run Foles' stuff."

The Wentz of 2017 — an MVP caliber player who led the Eagles to an 11-2 record before going down with a season ending injury — was a far cry from the Wentz of 2018, who, with different coaches and a reportedly a different mindset after watching his team win a Super Bowl without him, went 6-7 before another season-ending injury and was only "80 percent" of the player he was the year before.

The sources were from within the Eagles locker room, according to the article. Publicly, at least, numerous Eagles players have condemned the implications in the report and staunchly defended their quarterback.

With his trademark eloquence, Jason Kelce issued a fiery statement that in effect rebuked the gist of the article, saying Wentz has been "nothing but an incredible teammate."

"His work ethic and attention to detail every day made an impact on others," he told the Morning Call. "I have not read Joe's article and don't want to get into a habit of addressing unnamed opinions, but I know this: Carson through the first three years has been nothing but a great teammate trying to get better each and every day, trying to make others better each and every day, trying to make this team better each and every day. "

Offensive tackle Lane Johnson called the report fake news.

"Carson has been and is our leader and our QB. Ya'll know where to find me if you have any issues," he said on Twitter.

Tight end Zach Ertz, who broke the NFL single season record for receptions by a tight end in 2018, also stood by Wentz online.

"Don’t believe everything you read," he wrote. "Carson has been nothing but a GREAT person, GREAT teammate and GREAT leader since Day 1. Our locker room stands behind him all the way. We can’t wait to get back to work and be the best team we can be in 2019!"

Safety Malcolm Jenkins said the controversy was messing up his "me time" and called Wentz a future MVP.

"None of that is true," defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said, inviting public comments in a post. "Carson is a great teammate and great player."

The report wasn't entirely negative. It acknowledged Wentz as "incredibly hard working" and "highly intelligent," while also noting that Nick Foles and Wentz, despite the obvious competition, "love each other."

"We know what type of player he can be, and who he normally is," a source told the Philly Voice. "He needs to realize it’s the Philadelphia Eagles not the Philadelphia Carsons."

At least publicly, most players seem to share none of that mentality.

Eagles third quarterback Nate Sudfield said he "felt obligated" to refute the report.

"Carson is one of the best leaders and teammates I've been aroun around in my years playing football," he said. He's handled the last two years with such grace and poise and has never put anything above the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chris Long said he was reluctant to give the report "life" by addressing it, but needed to.

"Not a big anonymous source in a disparaging article about your franchise QB guy," he said. "I am a huge #11 guy. That’s as a player, as a teammate and as a man. I love the dude. I’ve told him."

Stefan Wisniewski added that it was "made up."

Last week, head coach Doug Pederson said that Wentz was the Eagles starting quarterback for 2019. Foles, who led the Eagles to within a drive of the NFC Championship game and effectively turned the entire season around, is likely to accept a starting job elsewhere next fall, though nothing's been determined yet.

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