Eagles’ Doug Pederson will ‘evaluate’ quarterback position following Carson Wentz-for-Jalen Hurts swap in loss vs. Packers

As the Green Bay Packers continued to dominate the overwhelmed Eagles at Lambeau Field on Sunday, head coach Doug Pederson knew he needed a spark in the third quarter.

Pederson told struggling starting quarterback Carson Wentz — with the Eagles trailing 23-3 — that rookie Jalen Hurts would replace him for the next series. To that point, Wentz had completed just six of 15 passes for 79 yards and taken four sacks.

“We needed something to kind of go our way,” Pederson said, “and so I decided to put Jalen in the game.”

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Following a six-play drive that saw Hurts toss a 34-yard completion to fellow rookie Jalen Reagor, Wentz’s night was over.

Hurts would go on to lead the Eagles’ only touchdown-scoring drive of the game on the next series. The rookie tossed a beautiful 32-yard floater to wide receiver Greg Ward for the touchdown.

Following the scoring drive, Reagor returned a punt 73 yards for a second consecutive touchdown, cutting the Packers’ lead to seven with 6:30 to play.

Hurts would offer a mixed performance — after the back-to-back scores — in the closing minutes of the game, as the Packers came roaring back with a 77-yard rushing touchdown by tailback Aaron Jones. Hurts threw an interception on his final play and the Packers won, 30-16.

Despite the late turnover in the loss, Hurts made the most of his first opportunity for extended playing time. With Wentz struggling, Pederson wouldn’t rule out a QB change for Week 14′s home matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

“You’ve got to let me get through this game,” Pederson said. “I’ve got to get through injuries, I’ve got to get through tape. There’s a lot of things that I’m going to consider and evaluate before anything is decided.”

Wentz said he was frustrated to sit out for the majority of the second half. He said it’s not in his “DNA” to accept sitting on the sideline.

“I’m a competitor, and when I’m out on that field — whether it’s a practice or a walkthrough or a game — I’m going to leave it all out on the field,” Wentz said. “I’m going to do everything I can. And today, that’s what I did. I don’t think I played my best, but I did everything I could, and at the end of the day, I came out of the game and that’s not my call.”

The Eagles are 3-8-1 with just four games remaining on the schedule. As they continue to fall behind in the NFC East race, keeping an eye on the future will become the priority.

And, while Wentz may still be the Eagles’ starting quarterback in the future, he might not be the starter against the Saints at Lincoln Financial Field next weekend.

“I know what I’m capable of,” Wentz said. “I know I can play better. I never have doubted myself or lost confidence in my abilities, but a lot of these things are out of my control.”

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