Nick Foles, not Michael Vick, is going to be throwing passes for the Eagles on Sunday. Photo by Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Former Arizona Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week, will make his second consecutive start for the Philadelphia Eagles this week.
The second-year pro is stepping in again for Michael Vick, trying to recover from a hamstring injury.
Since taking over for Vick just before halftime against the New York Giants two weeks ago, Foles has completed 38 of 56 passes for 493 yards, with six touchdowns and no interceptions. He was 22 of 31 for 296 yards and three touchdowns last week in a win at Tampa Bay.
(My main concern with Foles in the pros was that he would be turnover-prone, given his history to sometimes force the issue ands try to make plays that weren’t there. He fumbled eight times last season as a rookie but was intercepted only five times in 265 attempts.)
So far, so good on the turnover front this season. As in no turnovers.
If Foles keeps rolling Sunday in a big game against Dallas, Eagles coach Chip Kelly will have an increasingly difficult decision at quarterback, no matter the status of Vick’s hammy.
Here is a story from USA Today, our Gannett partner, on the Foles’ announcement from Thursday:
By Jason Wolf
USA TODAY SportsPHILADELPHIA — In a surreal scene, Michael Vick and Nick Foles stood behind the podium for a joint press conference Thursday at the NovaCare Complex, where Vick announced he was going to miss his second straight game with an injured hamstring. Both Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks professed their great friendship and love for one another while discounting any concern about whether Foles could usurp the starting job.
“That’s the one thing that Mike and I, we don’t worry about,” Foles said, after throwing his arm around Vick’s shoulders. “I respect Mike with everything I have. I love Mike. We have a great relationship. And we don’t worry about that. We know the most important thing is for the Philadelphia Eagles to win, no matter who’s at quarterback.
“We’re going to support each other,” Foles said. “When Mike’s out there, I love watching him. When he comes to the sideline, I’m going to be there talking to him and he does the same for me. We can’t worry about that. That’s what messes up friendships, and that’s not what it’s about. We want to keep this friendship for as long as we live, so we don’t worry about that.”
Foles was named NFC offensive player of the week after completing 22 of 31 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, plus rushing for a score in Philadelphia’s 31-20 victory at Tampa Bay last Sunday. That followed the second-year quarterback’s strong second-half performance in a victory at the New York Giants the week before after Vick left the game with a pulled left hamstring shortly before halftime.
The Eagles (3-3) host the Dallas Cowboys (3-3) on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, with first place in the NFC East on the line.