Prior to the start of the first Rookie Camp practice on Friday, head coach Doug Pederson met with the media to discuss the latest roster moves and the state of the team nearly a month into the offseason conditioning program.
On QB Carson Wentz
Pederson said that he's "highly encouraged" with where the third-year quarterback is at in his recovery from the season-ending knee injury. Wentz is not cleared to do practice in the spring and will continue to work on his rehab. Earlier this week, Wentz told NFL Network's Good Morning Football that he was "very confident" that he'll be ready for the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Pederson appreciates the enthusiasm from not just his quarterback but all of the veterans returning from injury - linebacker Jordan Hicks, safety Chris Maragos, tackle Jason Peters, and running back Darren Sproles.
"I hope the rest of the team sees that and feeds off of that," Pederson said. "That's motivation for the rest of us."
Pederson also wants to temper expectations for the rehabbing players.
"I'm not going to further risk any injury," he said.
On DT Tim Jernigan
"Biggest thing is getting him healthy," Pederson said about defensive tackle Tim Jernigan, who is sidelined with a back injury. There is no timetable for his return.
On Training Camp
At this point, there are no joint practices planned for Training Camp with another team. Last year, the Eagles worked with the Miami Dolphins ahead of their preseason game.
