Carson Wentz and Nick Foles (with ball) genuinely like each other’s company and share common interests including their spiritual beliefs. Photo by Andy Lewis / contrastphotgraphy.com

It is a story many find hard to believe, but it’s true. There are no problems at all in the Eagles quarterback room….none. People keep picking and prodding, but neither Carson Wentz or Nick Foles is having any of it.

Having said that, there are plenty of reasons to believe there would be.

In 2017, Wentz was on his way to a MVP season leading the Birds to a No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

It was a season no one saw coming. Wentz was leading the NFL in touchdown passes with just seven interceptions and a quarterback rating of 101.9.

Then on December 10, the second-year signal caller who the Eagles took with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, had the roof cave in on him.

Wentz tore up his knee against the Los Angeles Rams and as everyone watched him limp through the tunnel, even the most loyal Eagles fans had to admit that the Super Bowl season was over for 2017.

Then backup Nick Foles, who looked shaky on the field, but was able to pull out wins over the Rams (in relief), the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders to get the Birds to 13 wins and the No. 1 seed.

That alone was quite an accomplishment for Foles, but the former third round pick out of Arizona, shook off a shaky first half against the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional round of the playoffs to go on the run of his life bringing home the first Super Bowl win in franchise history along with the Super Bowl MVP Award.

Foles went from the pinnacle of his sport to the prospect of running scout team reps during the 2018 season.

No problem

Foles got a $2 million bump for this season and will take all the starting quarterback reps until Wentz is ready to return. Wentz said his goal is to be the starting quarterback on opening day September 6 against Atlanta. If not, Foles says he will be ready.

The 29-year-old said he loves it here and is looking forward to the season, even if he is on the bench. Foles said he loves the quaterback room and his relationship with Wentz. “This is a special team,”
Foles said ealier in the Spring. “This is a special city.”

Head coach Doug Pederson was asked why these two get along so well when in many, if not most cases, there would be tension.

“I just think there are no egos involved,” Pederson said before an OTA practice. “They’re in this thing together. Both support each other. Nick supported Carson during the season last year, and then Carson turned around and supported Nick at the end of the year. Their relationship has carried over into this spring and summer, and it’s really good. I see them working in the classroom. I see them working on the field. They keep talking. They want to get better individually. They want to get our team better. And so it’s been a really good, really good dynamic between those two.”

Pederson was asked if Foles has earned the right to run on to the field with the first team offense in the Opener on September 6. That he should be the starting quarterback that day. Pederson said pretty much the answer is obvious.

“Well, right now today, that’s the case, because Carson is not ready,” the coach said. “I can’t speak for September when we open up against the Falcons. I don’t know where we’re going to be at that time. I think on the outside world people looking at the Philadelphia Eagles, they would probably say, ‘Yeah, Nick deserves an opportunity.’ But this is the off-season still. We’re working a lot of people. Obviously encouraged with Carson’s progress on the field right now. He’s obviously very limited, as you know, just working through some seven on sevens.

So right now, standing here today, if we’re playing a game, I’d probably say Nick Foles is going out on the field, you know? So that’s where we’re at today. Now come September, we don’t know yet.”
Wentz spoke after last week’s mini-camp and was asked why he and Foles are so compatible.

“I think it’s because we have the Lord, Jesus Christ in our lives,” Wentz said. “It kind of breaks down any walls. We realize there is so much more to this life, and such a purpose out there than arguing over a lot of little things.”

Wentz was involved with most of the Spring practices, throwing in the drills and seven-on-sevens. He was asked what is the next hurdle he will face during his rehab.

“T think the biggest thing right now is to keep pushing along till I’m cleared,” Wentz said. “At the end of the day, there’s little bench marks along the way, but there’s nothing huge. As you see out here, I’m doing quite a bit. Obviously the biggest last big hurdle is going to be the contact part.”

Pederson put aside any thoughts that there was a quarterback rivalry going into camp hat starts July 26.

“I think inside he’s very hungry, I would be,” Pederson said of Wentz. “As a leader of the team, sort of the face of the franchise, he was drafted to be our guy long-term. Very hungry.
But listen, I still believe this is Carson’s team. I don’t have any other — I don’t think differently about that. But, yeah, inside he’s chomping, he’s ready to get back out there.” *

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii