NFL PLAYER NEWS

NFL Notes: Eagles’ Wentz has fracture in back

Lindyssports.com Staff

December 13, 2018 at 5:15 pm.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is dealing with a fracture in his back that threatens his season, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.

Wentz is not expected to play in Sunday’s matchup at the Los Angeles Rams after an MRI exam revealed a fractured vertebrae, according to ESPN. Wentz underwent CT scans throughout the season but none revealed the injury, the NFL Network reported.

Surgery is not needed to repair the issue that has plagued Wentz for a number of weeks, but the reigning Super Bowl champions must decide if continuing to play will risk further injury to the quarterback.

Philadelphia (6-7) is among three teams that trail Minnesota (6-6-1) for the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC.

Wentz was listed on the injury report with back soreness during Weeks 7 and 8, but Eagles coach Doug Pederson on Wednesday said the 25-year-old did not add to the issue during Sunday’s 29-23 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

If Wentz is unable to go against the Rams, the Eagles will turn to backup Nick Foles, who took over for an injured Wentz last December and guided Philadelphia to a Super Bowl championship.

–New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was held out of practice Thursday and received further evaluation on his injured quadriceps.

“It was good. We just went in, got it scanned just to see everything and it’s doing much better than it was,” Beckham said. “Just taking it a day at a time, that’s really it.”

The Giants have not ruled Beckham out of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans and he practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. During Wednesday’s practice, he participated in the individual portion after sitting out Sunday’s 40-16 victory at Washington.

–Chris Boswell is enduring a rough season but it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers are sticking with the struggling kicker, according to a report by ESPN on Thursday.

Boswell has missed a total of 11 kicks this season, five extra points and six field goals. He is 10 for 16 on field goals this season, missed two field goals and slipped on the turf in Oakland when lining up for a 40-yard field goal with as time expired in a 24-21 loss to the Raiders on Sunday.

Earlier this week, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said he would “explore options” and “that included Chris” and Wednesday, veterans Kai Forbath and Matt McCrane were brought in to audition.