Stories

Possible Season-Ending Injuries & Keeping the Faith

Published

December 10, 2017

Credit-Fox Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles beat a good Rams team to move to 11-2. They clinched the NFC East. But at what cost?

In the 4^th quarter, second-year sensation and MVP frontrunner Carson Wentz limped to the locker room. As of 9:30 PM Sunday night, nothing is set in stone. Some fear the worst, while others say it may not be as bad as it looks.

If Wentz were to miss time, the new Eagles starting quarterback would be Nick Foles. Foles is no stranger to the spotlight. In 2013, after Michael Vick went down, Foles threw for 27 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. He led the team to an 8-2 record and an NFC East title.

Credit-NFL.com

Two years later, he was traded to the Rams. His time there did not go as planned and, after a stint in Kansas City, he returned to Philadelphia this offseason.

Now, Foles could find himself thrust back into the starting role. Foles’ first and only playoff appearance came in a hard-fought, 26-24 loss to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Now, a playoff rematch seems like a possibility.

If Foles is indeed the Eagles’ QB the rest of the way, the team could not ask for a much better Plan B. Rarely can you find a back-up quarterback with 36 career starts under his belt and playoff experience. While it will be a tough road, back-up quarterbacks have had success in the playoffs.

In 2000, the Ravens benched starter Tony Banks in favor of back-up Trent Dilfer. On the back of an elite defense, Dilfer led the team to a Lombardi Trophy. In 2012, after losing Alex Smith to a concussion, the 49ers turned to Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick would lead the team all the way to an NFC Championship.

Losing a dynamic playmaker in Wentz will surely hurt, but it does not signal the end of the road. The Eagles have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. They have already overcome injuries to their star middle linebacker, perennial All-Pro left tackle, and pocket rocket running back among others.

The Eagles have conquered every obstacle in their path thus far. They have shown strong character in the face of adversity. This will be their toughest test yet, but they still have what it takes to make this a special season.

In this article:back-up, back-up qb, carson wentz, injuries, injury, NFL playoffs, nick foles, Philadelphia Eagles, playoffs, wentz

Written By Tyler O'Shea

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College), founder of Joker Mag, and author of The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (And Yourself). Since launching in November 2017, my stories have been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers worldwide. The seed was planted way back in 7th grade when I got cut from the baseball team. Instead of giving up, I found hope and inspiration in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. Today, my mission is simple: To share stories that give people the same feeling I felt when I was that undersized ballplayer searching for hope, inspiration, and evidence that my dream was possible. Like my mom always told me, you can do anything you set your mind to. Sometimes we just need a little extra push. And that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories with the world.