After suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 14 of last season and forfeiting an MVP-season to help his team win the Super Bowl from the sideline, Carson Wentz committed himself to getting back on the field as soon as possible.
In 2018, Wentz is fully healthy, and his numbers suggest he may even be playing at a higher level than last year.
For that dedication and fearlessness on the behalf of his team, Wentz was named the recipient of the Philadelphia Eagles' 2018 Ed Block Courage Award.
- Read about Wentz's road to recovery in theWeek 5 Gameday Magazine cover story.
The honor goes to National Football League players who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. All 32 teams in the league vote every year to select their Ed Block Courage Award winner for that season.
Wentz's rehab began in mid-December 2017 after he tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee in a Week 14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams that clinched the NFC East. In that game, he set the franchise record for passing touchdowns in a season with 33. He was named second-team All Pro and was earned his first career Pro Bowl nod. While recovering, Wentz served in the backup quarterback role, working with Nick Foles to guide him to Super Bowl MVP status.
Wentz took the field again on September 23 as the Eagles took defeated the Indianapolis Colts 20-16 in Week 3 of the 2018 season. It had been a little more than nine months, ahead of schedule for most players with his injury. His tireless effort paid off.
In his first eight games this season, Wentz is completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 2,304 yards with 15 touchdowns to six interceptions. He has an average passer rating of 100.1. In Week 8, Wentz became just the second quarterback in NFL history to record 30-plus attempts and a 115.0-plus passer rating in four straight games, joining Peyton Manning in 2012.
"The best part about coming back when I did, and just everything that I've done in treatment and therapy all throughout the offseason, is that there was no hesitation when I stepped back on that field," Wentz said following his first game of 2018. "I wasn't thinking twice about my knee. I wasn't worried in the pocket. I wasn't worried on the run, or moving around, flying, doing everything.
"I credit that to the training staff and everything we did to prepare me. And the good Lord just working through me. It was quite the offseason getting to that point, but I feel great going forward."
