Doug Pederson Benches Carson Wentz For Jalen Hurts, But Says Wentz Can Still Be ‘Exceptional’

doug pederson carson wentz benching

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The Philadelphia Eagles have certainly been in a better position than where they find themselves at the moment. Just four seasons ago the Eagles won the Super Bowl and now they may have the biggest mess on their hands of any other team in the NFL, and the mess is called Carson Wentz.

The Eagles are 3-8-1 on the season and their offense sits fourth to last in the league in total offense averaging 318.8 yards per game. Philly ranked 14th in the league a year ago averaging 360.8 yards per game. While you can’t put all of the blame on Wentz seeing as how he has little to no help on offense, there’s no arguing that he isn’t playing anywhere close to the level of a quarterback with an average salary of $32 million should be playing.

Head coach Doug Pederson finally saw enough last week in the Eagles’ 30-16 loss in Green Bay as he pulled Wentz from the game in favor of rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Pederson is sticking with Hurts this week with the Saints set to visit Philly this Sunday and now the head coach finds himself in an even stickier spot than before the switch.

Pederson had to bench Wentz, this team needs at least the hope of a spark in the form of Hurts, but then again, Wentz was supposed to be the franchise quarterback. Wentz very well could still be that guy in the long-run, too, which is exactly why Pederson has to continue to praise the high-paid QB despite the fact he just benched him for a rookie.

“I think Carson Wentz can be an exceptional quarterback in this league. He’s proven that,” Pederson told reporters Tuesday, according to the NY Post. “We’ve got to continue to battle, fight and work. … Just get back to being Carson Wentz and back on track. That’s my focus with him, to just get him back to the level of play that we all know that he has shown us and that he is capable of doing.”

The Eagles are in a bad spot. Hell, they’re even in a bad spot if Hurts goes out there and leads the Eagles to an upset over the Saints because then what do you do with Wentz and his gigantic contract? As for possible suitors for Wentz, both the Bears and Colts have been mentioned.