Carson Wentz

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy said Saturday he "absolutely" understands why quarterback Nick Foles' name popped up in trade rumors after the Indianapolis Colts' Carson Wentz suffered a foot injury.

"And you're talking about a Super Bowl MVP and a guy that's started a lot of games," Nagy told reporters. "He's had a really interesting career in so many ways that I just think that he deserves that. I mean, anybody that's had the career he has is somebody that's always going to be ... for all teams, as a third-string guy, teams are going to look at guys like him."

While the Colts await further information about the extent of Wentz's injury, they announced the signing of Brett Hundley to join a quarterback depth chart that also features Jacob Eason, Sam Ehlinger and Jalen Morton, who were expected to compete for the backup job in training camp.

The situation will become more pressing if Wentz will be sidelined for an extended period of time.

Foles, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl LII title while replacing an injured Wentz during the 2017 season, opened Bears camp third on the depth chart behind Andy Dalton and rookie Justin Fields.

Nagy credited the 32-year-old Texas native for how he's handled the situation:

I would say probably 95 percent of people in Nick's situation would handle it completely opposite of the way he's handled it, from the time that I brought him in and told him that he was going be the third-string quarterback. And I have to give so much credit to him because he accepted it. He understood it. Was he happy about it? No. But he understood it. ... From the time we got to OTAs until now, we all talked about how impressed we are with how he's handled himself in that role.

Foles struggled across nine appearances (seven starts) for the Bears in 2020. He completed 64.7 percent of his throws for 1,852 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ranked 32nd in ESPN's Total QBR and received a lackluster 66.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

Yet, he'd represent an experienced option for the Colts, who are aiming to reach the playoffs for the third time in the past four seasons.

There's been no indication Indianapolis' front office has reached out to Chicago, but it's a trade that would make a lot of sense on paper given the Bears' crowded QB room—Foles is competing for playing time with rookie first-round pick Justin Fields and fellow veteran Andy Dalton—and the Colts' sudden need for veteran depth.

Indy is scheduled to open the preseason Aug. 15 when it hosts the Carolina Panthers.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz says he has a "new passion" for football after being traded from Philadelphia this offseason.

“I really feel like I have a new passion for the game,” Wentz told Beth Hoole of Valley News Live. “I’ve been high, I’ve been injured, I’ve been, now, benched, I’ve been traded, I’ve kinda seen a lot in five years, and so whatever the game throws at me, I’m ready.”  

The Eagles traded Wentz to Indianapolis in March for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round selection that could become a first if Wentz hits certain playing-time incentives. The decision to trade Wentz came after a falling out with the organization, including coach Doug Pederson, who was fired in the offseason.

Wentz is also coming off the worst season of his career, a year that saw him descend from franchise face to one of the sport's worst quarterbacks. He threw for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns against 15 interceptions, tying for the league lead in the latter category despite being benched for four games.

Colts head coach Frank Reich and Wentz spent two seasons together in Philadelphia when Reich was the Eagles' offensive coordinator. The 28-year-old signal-caller had his best professional season under Reich's tutelage in 2017, throwing for 3,296 yards and 33 touchdowns against seven interceptions. 

“I’m excited, I’m excited for it,” Wentz said of playing for the Colts. “Just being in the organization and being in the facility, it’s definitely a special place. It’s really got a family vibe and a family element … just to know there are some guys before me who had done incredible jobs and really are legends in that city is exciting.”

Wentz is joining a succession of quarterbacks that includes Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers, with the latter spending one season in Indianapolis before retiring after the 2020 campaign. 

Now that he's heading into his sixth season—and his second franchise—in the NFL, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz has a new perspective on what it means to be a professional athlete.

He told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated he is comfortable enough in the league to view his job as exactly that: 

"Being a quarterback, being a football player, is not truly my identity; it's not what I put everything in my value into. It's harder to do that when you're younger, trying to make a name for yourself. But as a man of faith, this is my job, my occupation, something I love to do. It's not my identity, it's not my whole value, it's not my whole life." 

Wentz was dealt to the Colts in February in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick (which they later traded to the Dallas Cowboys) and a conditional second-round pick in 2022. He is reuniting with Frank Reich, the current Indianapolis head coach who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator during Wentz's first two years in the league. 

The Eagles are ready to run with Jalen Hurts under center, a year after the rookie started four games and threw for 1,061 yards and six touchdowns. 

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich and his new quarterback, Carson Wentz, are hitting it off, just like old times. 

The pair, who first worked together on the Philadelphia Eagles when Reich was Doug Pederson's offensive coordinator, were reunited in Indianapolis this offseason after the team acquired Wentz for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional first-rounder.

And they haven't missed a beat, according to Reich:

Wentz sang a similar tune, saying he's adjusting to a new playbook and organization but that he and Reich are on the same page:

Wentz, 28, had his worst professional season for the Eagles last year, throwing for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while taking 50 sacks and completing just 57.4 percent of his passes. 

He led the NFL in interceptions and sacks taken despite appearing in just 12 games after he was benched in favor of rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. 

Wentz's poor play, combined with the Eagles using a valuable asset on Hurts (a second-round pick) and being benched, made a divorce between the parties feel inevitable. 

Reich believes the experience will ultimately benefit Wentz, however:

The Colts went 11-5 last season with Philip Rivers under center, losing in the wild-card round of the postseason. Rivers retired after the season, and the hope will be that Wentz can rediscover the form that made him the MVP frontrunner in 2017 before a torn ACL ended his season (and opened the door for Nick Foles to lead the Eagles to the team's only Super Bowl title). 

And early returns from Indy are that Wentz came ready to work. 

"He's a guy that likes to work, so that just blends in perfectly with everybody on the team who loves to make the changes to get their work in so we can be great," wideout Zach Pascal told reporters. "I'm looking forward to it."

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich said Monday he has no problem putting more pressure on himself by betting on a rebound year from quarterback Carson Wentz:

"I think it's a collaborative effort that we work with Carson. But yeah, you stick your neck out for players as a head coach or a GM or a scout or coach—we all do it. As a head coach, sometimes you have a bit more say in it than maybe a position coach. But that's what you love about it. I love sticking my neck out for people I believe in. I'm willing to put it on the line for players that you believe in. I believe in this team, I believe in Carson. I feel good about it. I do know that his play will reflect the work that he does, the work that our team does, the work that our staff does, all the preparation. But I don't mind being the point person on that."

Reich was the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017, Wentz's first two NFL seasons. The Colts are hoping that prior relationship can help the 2017 Pro Bowl selection rediscover his prior form.

The 28-year-old North Dakota State product was one of the league's most productive quarterbacks over the three seasons before last year's struggles. He recorded 81 touchdowns and just 21 picks across 40 regular-season games from 2017 through 2019.

If he can return to that level, the Colts will have gotten a steal, as they only traded two draft picks, a 2021 third-rounder and a conditional 2022 second-rounder, to acquire him from Philly in March.

Reich further defended Wentz on Monday, saying he's "very confident" the team has the talent to help him bounce back.

He was asked whether Wentz was "broken" after throwing 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for the Eagles in 2020:

"I just cringe when I hear stuff like that, not that a player shouldn't be accountable for poor play on the field. Carson has to answer to that, and he has answered to it. And until you get out there and prove otherwise, that's what you live with. But I just know that playing the position of quarterback, there are so many factors that go into it. We talked about why the poor play last year, I'm just very confident that he has a team around him. It's just I think the culture fit.

"You guys know how I feel about the Eagles, how highly I feel about that organization. But sometimes in sports, this is one of those transitions I think it's going to end up being good for both organizations, I think it's going to be good for Carson. I think we got to be patient with it. I think it takes a little bit of time, just like it took Philip [Rivers] a minute and Jacoby [Brissett] a minute. But I'm confident that we got the right player."

Indianapolis doesn't have another proven quarterback—Sam Ehlinger, Jacob Eason and Jalen Morton will compete for the backup role—so the play of Wentz will likely make or break their 2021 campaign.

Reich sounds positive it's a gamble that will pay off for the AFC contenders.