Dec 10, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Bryce Hager (54) and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Photo Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season and playoffs, coach Doug Pederson announced Monday.
The 24-year-old Wentz, who was expected to be an NFL MVP candidate this season, underwent an MRI on Monday morning after suffering the knee injury in Sunday’s 43-35 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
It usually takes a player six to nine months to recover from the required surgery.
Wentz was injured when he took a big hit on a third-quarter touchdown run that was called back because of a penalty. He came up limping after absorbing multiple hits on the run but stayed in the game and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery four plays later to give the Eagles the lead.
Wentz was 23-of-41 passing for 291 yards and four touchdowns with one interception before leaving the game.
Nick Foles replaced Wentz on the next drive for the Eagles (11-2), who clinched the NFC East title with Sunday’s victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for their first division title since 2013.
Foles, who was 6 of 10 for 42 yards after coming into the game, will now be the starting quarterback.
“The reason we went out and got Nick Foles are for reasons like this,” Pederson told reporters in his press conference Monday. “I hate it for Carson, and the season he’s having.”
With his four touchdowns passes Sunday, Wentz now has 33 to move past Sonny Jurgensen for the most TDs in a single season in franchise history, a record that stood since 1961. Wentz completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 3,296 yards with just seven interceptions in 13 games this season.
The Eagles next face the New York Giants this Sunday before a Christmas Day game against the Oakland Raiders and a season finale against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 31.
“I’m absolutely ready,” Foles said after Sunday’s game. “That’s what I’m here for.”
