PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- Nick Foles’ shadow has returned to where Carson Wentz is standing, even though Foles' legendary Eagles season is a little less than two seasons removed and, quite frankly, his Chicago Bears are on a three-game slide.
Nonetheless, NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre — former teammate of Eagles head coach Doug Pederson in Green Bay — said on ESPN’s "First Take" on Tuesday, “I actually thought that (the Eagles) should’ve kept Nick Foles rather than Carson Wentz just based off of production and where they got to. They won a Super Bowl with Foles. That was a little bit surprising, but they’re obviously banking on (Wentz’s) upside. How many more years do you let it linger before you stick with him or you cut bait? That’s a question they only can answer.”
To add further context, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro pointed out how this isn’t the first time Favre has expressed this opinion.
Also, to be fair, while Foles won Super Bowl LII, Wentz’s MVP-level performance in 2017 before he injured his knee put the Eagles in position to capture home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, on their way to capturing the Lombardi Trophy.
However, Wentz is not having a good season in 2020. He has 12 interceptions and four lost fumbles. Four of his 16 turnovers happened against the Cowboys, making the Eagles' win look like luck.
Asked whether the Eagles have a franchise quarterback in Wentz, considering the way he’s been playing, he said it's hard to say.
"I think he is very capable. I think he has to stay healthy. ... And the pieces around him — I’m not saying they’re good enough or not good enough — but they have to stay healthy and have some consistency. Sometimes I don’t even know who he’s throwing to. They’ve just been riddled with injuries, and that in itself has certainly not helped Carson. And he’s been injured himself. So, play a full season with your guys and let’s see what you’re capable of.”
It’s important to point out that Wentz played 16 games in 2019 before suffering a concussion in the playoff loss to Seattle. Last season, Wentz threw 27 touchdown passes with seven interceptions and led — as Favre mentioned — a collection of unknown receivers to a division championship in the final month of the regular season.
His drop off from 2017, though, is undeniable, and injuries have arguably contributed to that. But 12 interceptions through eight games in 2020 is the most alarming statistic.
“I think we all are in agreement that he has the tools,” Favre said. “I’m gonna err on the side of lack of consistency. Who are you throwing to, more than anything? They’ve had to mix and mingle players in and out. Now, that being said, other quarterbacks have managed to handle that very well. So, I get the other side of the argument that you gotta make it work.”
It’s important to add that, while Wentz has been missing Miles Sanders, DeSean Jackson, Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert and Alshon Jeffery for varying periods of time this season, Travis Fulgham and Greg Ward are emerging as young wide receivers of the future.
Favre acknowledged that Pederson was his former backup quarterback with the Packers, and he didn’t pin Wentz’s struggles on him.
“He’s a very simple coach. He’s gonna put you in the best possible opportunity to succeed. He’s not gonna complicate things.”
Twice Pederson was asked his opinion of Favre's assessment, and twice Pederson offered versions of "I respect Brett's opinion" and "He's entitled to his opinion."
When a reporter gave Pederson a third opportunity to clarify his support for Wentz, he said this:
"Carson's our guy. Carson was our draft pick. Carson is the guy that is going to carry us and lead this football team. ... Whatever (Favre) wants to say, that's fine, and we're going to remain friends. It doesn't bother me one way or the other. All I know is Carson Wentz is our guy, and it's my job to get Carson Wentz to play better, to do better, to help this football team win. As it is to get everybody else to play better."
Favre summed it up, saying, “I’m gonna write it off as too many injuries right now. I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt.”
What makes Favre’s comments stand out, more than anything, is he had many seasons in his illustrious Super Bowl-winning career in which he threw more than 20 interceptions, going as high as 29 in 2005. The 27-year-old Wentz has often been compared to Favre — not for the interceptions, but for their traits and style of play.
The Voice of the Eagles, Merrill Reese, was surprised to hear that Favre would’ve taken Foles over Wentz.
“Number one, Brett is a great friend of Doug Pederson’s,” Reese told KYW Newsradio, “and for him to start second-guessing Doug Pederson — I’m surprised. I’m frankly surprised by that, at least publicly.”
Pederson is not the Eagles General Manager, but the team choosing Wentz over Foles ahead of the 2019 season is as much about Pederson going all-in on Wentz as it is about the front office.
“Number two, Brett Favre was one of the most aggressive quarterbacks ever … Brett Favre threw more interceptions than anybody. I’m not saying he wasn’t a great quarterback -- because he made up for it in other ways -- but he was really one of the most reckless quarterbacks ever.
“And number three — listen, we all love Nick Foles … But Nick Foles is nowhere near the talent of Carson Wentz. And if you watch the way Nick Foles has performed this year in Chicago — he’s had his good moments, he’s won some games, but he’s really not playing well.”
The best way to make the Wentz-Foles conversations vanish is for Wentz to improve his play and have a successful postseason. The next opportunity to rid himself of his turnover woes will be Sunday afternoon in North Jersey against the New York Giants.