Wentz a healthy scratch, relationship with Pederson reportedly fractured
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is a healthy scratch for the club's regular-season finale Sunday night against the Washington Football Team.
Rookie Jalen Hurts is making his fourth start after taking over for the struggling Wentz. Nate Sudfeld will act as the backup for Week 17.
Context here: The #Eagles still think this situation is salvageable. So the thought is why even risk the possibility of injury for a key player in 2021 and beyond? We’ll see what Wentz wants. But the team wants Wentz. https://t.co/XHZC1HRifV
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 3, 2021
The Eagles have been eliminated from playoff contention but can still play spoiler by beating Washington and handing the division crown to the winner of the earlier New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys game.
It was reported in December that Wentz was unhappy with how Philadelphia handled his benching and that he isn't interested in remaining the backup in 2021.
The veteran signal-caller's feelings seemingly haven't changed. Wentz still plans to ask for a trade this offseason because his relationship with head coach Doug Pederson is "fractured beyond repair," according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
It certainly needs work. Is it broken beyond repair? We’re about to find out. Think of it as a marriage headed to counseling. Sometimes it ends in divorce, sometimes it doesn’t. We’ll see. https://t.co/zVpZyhrMI1
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 3, 2021
Pederson is reportedly expected to return to the Eagles next season despite a disappointing campaign for the NFC East club.
Wentz's preferred trade destination is the Indianapolis Colts, where he could reunite with head coach Frank Reich, his former offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Hurts has impressed since taking over the Eagles' starting role. He's thrown for 989 yards and six touchdowns against three interceptions while adding 320 yards and one score on the ground.
Meanwhile, Wentz recorded 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns against an NFL-high 15 interceptions in 12 starts.
While Wentz seemingly wants out of Philadelphia, his four-year, $128-million extension signed in June 2019 makes it a difficult request. Cutting him would incur an unworkable $59.2-million cap hit, while a trade would create a $33.8-million hit.