Kelly: 'Feel very bad' for Nick Foles
PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has a "crack" in his left collarbone, coach Chip Kelly said Monday, but the injury won't need to be repaired surgically, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Foles is expected to miss a stretch of games, depending on whether the bone was displaced. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks, the source told Schefter.
"I feel very bad for Nick that he's going to be out," Kelly said.
Last season, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his left collarbone in a Week 9 game against the Chicago Bears. Rodgers didn't return until Week 17.
Foles' injury comes midway through a season that was about the third-year quarterback solidifying his hold on the Eagles' quarterback job, a season that was not following that particular script. The Eagles are 6-2 with Foles at the controls, but the quarterback's inconsistent play and penchant for throwing interceptions were troubling.
Some of that was caused by injuries along the Eagles' offensive line. The Eagles were hoping to see if Foles regained his 2013 form when the line returned to full strength. Center Jason Kelce played in Houston after missing four games due to sports hernia surgery. Left guard Evan Mathis is eligible to return from the reserve/designated-to-return list for Monday night's game against the Carolina Panthers.
But it will be Mark Sanchez playing behind Kelce and Mathis. The former New York Jets quarterback signed with the Eagles in the offseason. Sanchez, who handled the backup role with aplomb, now gets a chance to re-establish himself as a starting-caliber NFL quarterback by rescuing the Eagles' season.
"Nothing changes," Sanchez said Sunday after playing three quarters in Houston. "How do I prepare to play? How do I prepare to watch a game? It's the same. I might get less reps as a backup, but I am watching the same amount of film. I am doing the same amount of drills. I am taking advantage of my time that I can during the week. I can't cut corners or I'll get caught off guard out there. This league will expose you and you've got to be ready."
Sanchez completed 15 of 22 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans. He also threw two interceptions. The first was an accurate pass to Josh Huff that the rookie wide receiver deflected toward Texans defensive back Jumal Rolle. The second, also picked off by Rolle, resulted from a throw behind wide receiver Riley Cooper.
"I feel great about Mark," Kelly said. "He was ready to go in the game. He's always ready, and always focused."
Foles was knocked out of the game by Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus. Before that sack, Foles completed 10 of 13 passes for 124 yards. He threw a perfect pass to Jeremy Maclin for a 59-yard touchdown. Later, Foles threw while being hit by Texans star J.J. Watt. That pass was intercepted by cornerback A.J. Bouye and returned 51 yards for a touchdown.
The interception was Foles' 10th of the season. Last year, he threw just two interceptions while throwing 27 touchdown passes. That excellent ratio led to Foles' NFL-best 119.2 passer rating. This year, Foles has thrown 13 touchdown passes. His passer rating for the season is 81.5.
The three interceptions Sunday, plus linebacker DeMeco Ryans' fumble after tearing his Achilles tendon, gave the Eagles four more turnovers for the season. They have turned the ball over 21 times in eight games.
"It's going to be tough to survive, living on the edge like that," Kelly said.
For now, at least, Sanchez will be the one who tries to pull the Eagles back from that edge.
