Philadelphia Eagles: 5 reasons starting Jalen Hurts is the right call
By David Esser
Protecting Carson Wentz’ health.
No matter how the rest of this season plays out, Wentz is also still the Philadelphia Eagles most “prized” asset. He’s a 27 year old franchise quarterback who’s experienced an abundance of success at the professional level. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017, was in the MVP conversation for the majority of that same season, and set multiple team/league records in 2019 (first QB to throw 4,000+ yards without a 500 yard receiver).
He’s also owed a crap ton of money moving forward.
If the Eagles want to continue on with Wentz as their franchise QB in 2021, having him enter the season in good physical health is pretty important. He’s been the most hit and the most sacked quarterback in the league this year, and throwing him out there for four meaningless games is irresponsibly dangerous.
On the flip side, a late-season injury would also completely tank Wentz’ trade value in the offseason (if the Eagles decide to move forward with Hurts). While a trade is hard to imagine due to Wentz’ lofty cap number, it’s definitely not impossible.
Ultimately speaking, guaranteeing Wentz’ well-being over the next four games is likely more important than having him play in an already lost season.