Mark Sanchez bungled the Philadelphia Eagles’ chances for a Sunday Night win over the Cowboys, but coach Chip Kelly said Sanchez will remain the Eagles starting QB next week. Kelly told reporters Monday that the Nick Foles collarbone injury that thrust Sanchez into the Eagles’ lineup hasn’t healed. As a result, Sanchez will start for the Eagles against the Washington Redskins on Saturday.
Foles was knocked out of the game and the Eagles’ lineup on Nov. 2 on a seemingly innocuous tackle against the Houston Texans. When Foles hit the ground he fractured his left collarbone. Although Foles is right-handed, the left-collarbone injury caused enough pain to sideline him for the past five weeks.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Foles’ collarbone was re-examined Monday and showed little to no improvement.
“The bone is not healed,” he said. “Until he gets fully healed, he’s not going to be able to play with it. We think he’ll be able to throw a little more this week, but we can’t have anyone near him with contact.”
As a result, Sanchez will get the start this weekend against the Redskins.
Sanchez came on quickly for the Eagles as Foley’s replacement, causing pundits like ESPN’s Colin Cowherd to say the NY Jets just didn’t know how to use his skills. The Eagles’ Kelly, who developed several solid quarterbacks at the University of Oregon, was able to succeed with Sanchez where others hadn’t.
On paper that argument holds true. When Foles was knocked out of the Texans game he had completed 186-of-311 passes for 2,163 yards and 13 TDs against 10 interceptions. Since taking over as the Eagles’ starting quarterback, Sanchez has completed 138-of-223 passes for 1,752 yards and 10 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Considering Sanchez’s totals came in six games rather than eight for Foles, that sounds great.
However, in Foles’ eight starts the Eagles were 6-2. Sanchez is 3-3 in his six games as a starter, including last night’s collapse against the Dallas Cowboys.
Sanchez had gotten the Eagles to rattle off 24 straight points against Dallas, turning a 21-0 shutout into a 24-21 lead. But in the second half he threw two interceptions that may have cost them the game. The Eagles ended up losing to the Cowboys 38-27 in Philly on Sunday night.