Chip Kelly: Bradford 'Will Not Play' Sunday, Ertz Out For Preseason
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Everyone can't wait to get their first look at new Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford during Sunday's preseason opener.
Wait, what? He's not playing?
"Sam will not play," Chip Kelly said during his press conference on Friday. "That's my decision. He really wants to play, I don't think he's really happy with my decision, but just felt that he's been out here for two weeks. He's done a really nice job. He'll get his first work against the [Baltimore] Ravens [on August 22nd] when we get a chance to train with them for a couple days before we play and he'll play in the Ravens game.
"So, Mark [Sanchez] will start the game."
Why?
"He's been out here just for two weeks," Kelly said. "I think the other guy's got a little bit of base and I just feel more comfortable putting him in, in the Ravens game."
Bradford, who has played in just seven games in the last two years, continues to recover from back-to-back ACL tears. Kelly, however, says it has nothing to do with health.
"I think he can go," Kelly explained. "I know he's disappointed, but it's just my call. There's a fine line. Part of it, you look at what happened to Niles Paul last night for the Redskins who's a tremendous football player, who's done for the year right now. So, there's that fine line in preseason games where you are. So, his first 11-on-11 was two weeks ago and now, just going out against a team---just my decision. We've been back and forth around it, but I made the final call.
"Sam has been full go, only limitation is his head coach."
A key Eagle who is dealing with an injury is tight-end Zach Ertz. Ertz injured himself catching a pass from Bradford in practice on Wednesday and Kelly says he will be out a few weeks.
"Zach has a core muscle injury and he's probably gonna be out for a couple of weeks now," Kelly said. "I think he'll be back for Week 1, but I think right now he's out. He's with Dr. [William] Meyers today. So, it'll be a couple weeks with him, but he's not gonna play in the preseason."
DeMarco Murray, DeMeco Ryans, and Mychal Kendricks have been limited at practice this week, but Kelly says they will all play on Sunday.
Linebacker Kiko Alonso will not play in the preseason opener due to a concussion.
"Kiko is fine," Kelly said. "We know what type of football player he is, but that's not something you need to rush him back into doing anything."