Eagles Turn To Mark Sanchez At Quarterback
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In the NFL, a backup quarterback is an extremely valuable commodity. It was never more evident than in the NFC East on Sunday.
The Eagles lost starting quarterback Nick Foles to a cracked collarbone, and Foles is expected to miss about six weeks. In stepped veteran Mark Sanchez, who helped guide the Eagles to a 31-21 victory over the Texans. Meanwhile, Cowboys backup Brandon Weeden struggled as Dallas fell to Arizona, 28-17. It is another indication that contending teams in the NFL need a capable backup to step in under center. Chip Kelly says he had complete confidence in Sanchez when he entered the game on Sunday.
"I feel great about Mark," said Kelly. "We felt great about him all along. We always said we need to have two quarterbacks. I thought he played outstanding in the preseason and showed no rust when he got in there against Houston."
Sanchez' play in the preseason prompted many to wonder if the Eagles should put the quaterback on the trade market in return for a high draft pick. Now that Foles is sidelined, it is clear the Eagles needed to have a veteran such as Sanchez available.
"I think Mark is a lot farther along than a lot of guys because of his experience with the Jets," Kelly said. "Nick last year was just in his second year. He learned one system his first year in the NFL, then he had to learn a whole new system in his second year in the NFL. Mark is a little bit further along and is more advanced because of his experience with Jets."
It is no surprise that Sanchez and several other Eagle backups were ready to play when called upon this season. Kelly gives his backups more reps during weekly workouts than many other NFL teams, which makes the transition into the starting lineup easier for the reserves.
"I'm a big rep guy," said Kelly. "We're a big rep operation. That's what we believe. You can't just talk about it and show it on film. They've got to go through it on the field. They've got to see it as close to game speed as possible."
There are still uncertainties with Sanchez at quarterback. The veteran experienced some difficult moments during his time with the Jets, and the Eagles schedule features the likes of the Packers, Cowboys and Seahawks in the coming weeks. Still, the Eagles appear to be in a better position than their rivals in Dallas with Sanchez at the helm.
"You are literally a play away from being a starter," Kelly said. "That's how Mark approaches it. He prepared himself like he was the starter.
The Eagles placed DeMeco Ryans (Achilles) on inured reserve, ending the linebacker's season.
Check Out These Sports Stories:
