Frank: With Foles' injury, Wentz needs to be the Eagles' backup quarterback vs. Bears

PHILADELPHIA – There is no mystery once Eagles head coach Doug Pederson named Nick Foles the starting quarterback for the wildcard playoff game this Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Foles' ribs, which have been injured the past two games, are good enough for him to play. Foles admitted Wednesday that he still has "a little bit of soreness. But every day, drastically improving."

Eagles' Foles to start vs. Bears, but questions remain on rib injury, Wentz's status

That doesn't take care of the mystery surrounding what the Eagles should do with Carson Wentz during the postseason. It says here that Wentz should dress, but not start, against the Bears, and thus be available as a backup.

For the record, Eagles coach Doug Pederson has stuck to his story that Wentz is improving with the stress fracture in his back that has sidelined him the last three games – all victories led by Foles. Pederson has also insisted that Wentz won't play until he's 100 percent healthy. No one is saying when that will happen.

Pederson was asked Monday if Nate Sudfeld will continue to serve as the backup quarterback. Wentz has not been on the game-day roster in those games. Sudfeld has thrown just two passes this season – one last week, and one the week before, both when Foles was injured. 

Pederson responded: "As of now."

5 stars for Eagles in their playoff run, beginning with Foles

But knowing that Foles has sore ribs, and has left the last two games with that injury, the Eagles are better off with a not-fully-healthy Wentz coming in over Sudfeld.

It's a delicate situation for Pederson, but one that screams for Wentz to at least be on the active roster on game day in case he's needed.

On the one hand, the Eagles have several veterans, many of whom could be playing their last games as Eagles. Is it fair to them if Sudfeld is the quarterback should Foles get hurt again?

That's not a knock on Sudfeld, whom the Eagles believe could be a starting quarterback in the NFL someday.

On the other hand, what about Wentz's psyche? It's the second straight season in which he has had to watch Foles lead a playoff run. For Wentz, that has to be galling, considering that he was the second overall pick in the 2016 draft, and someone the Eagles are building the franchise around.

The Eagles have been tight-lipped on the extent of Wentz's injury, and Wentz has not been available to the media since the 29-23 overtime loss to the Cowboys on Dec. 9 that nearly ended the Eagles' playoff hopes.

But the injury is clearly something that has bothered Wentz off and on since late October, when he first appeared on the injury report. Back then, Wentz was a limited participant in practice for one day during each of those three weeks. He was a full participant in every practice since, up until Foles took over.

Wentz has most likely played through the injury for several weeks before he was replaced. The Eagles held a walkthrough practice Wednesday, so it won't be known until Thursday if Wentz will be able to practice this week.

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Still, by game time on Sunday, Wentz will have had four full weeks of rest, with no pounding on his back. It might be enough time of healing for Wentz to come in if needed, even in a conservative approach.

Again, Foles is, and should be the starter as long as the Eagles are still playing. The Eagles are playing their best football of the season under Foles, who in the last three games has averaged 321 yards passing per game. He has completed 77.0 percent of his passes, with six touchdowns against three interceptions. His passer rating is 108.4.

More importantly, Foles simply wins. In 2017, he took over when Wentz tore two knee ligaments last Dec. 10 and led the Eagles to the Super Bowl, where he was named the game's MVP.

This season, the Eagles are 4-1 under Foles. He went 1-1 to start the season while Wentz was completing his recovery from knee surgery.

Including playoffs, Foles is 24-12 as a starting quarterback for the Eagles (he played for them from 2012-14 before returning in 2017). Throw out the 1-5 record as a starter in 2012, when the team was 4-12, and Foles' record as an Eagles starter is 23-7.

Foles has succeeded lately because he has been getting the ball out quickly, which has benefited his receivers. That is particularly true for Alshon Jeffery, who has two catches of 50 yards or more in the three games (he had none in the seven games before that).

"I think it comes from just his understanding of the offense, knowing where everybody is going to be," Pederson said. "If it's a ball out fast to the flat, he's going to get it there. If he has to hold it for a second to get it down the field, he's going to know that."

To Foles, it's "just playing ball."

"You go out there, you feel the game, you understand the game, game management, what’s going on," he said. "My body at times knows when to take the shot, when not to, when to be smart and stay inside the chains. So these last three weeks, it’s sort of how it’s gone. We’ve been able to play at a faster level … It’s been good for us to do that."

That doesn't make Foles better than Wentz, who in 11 games this season completed 69.6 percent of his passes with a passer rating of 102.2.

But if Foles can't finish the game, the Eagles' next best chance to win is with Wentz. That's what the playoffs are about – winning. If Wentz comes through and the Eagles are still playing next week, then the starting discussion can begin anew.

Injury update

The Eagles had a walkthrough practice Wednesday, so the list is an estimation. The following would not have practiced: LB D.J. Alexander (hamstring), DE Michael Bennett (foot), CB Sidney Jones (hamstring), and Wentz (back). The following would have been limited: DT Fletcher Cox (knee), Foles (ribs), C Jason Kelce (knee), T Jason Peters (quad), G Isaac Seumalo (chest), WR Mike Wallace (ankle).

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.