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PHILADELPHIA -- Any questions that anyone had about Carson Wentz's readiness to be an NFL starting quarterback were emphatically answered on Sunday. The cool-as-a-cucumber rookie from North Dakota State completed 22 of 37 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Philadelphia Eagles' 29-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.
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His 101.0 passer rating was the highest mark by an Eagles rookie since John Reaves (104.4) in 1972. His 278 passing yards were the fourth most ever by an Eagles rookie and the most by a rookie in his first start since at least 1960.
Of course, everything needs to be tempered by the fact that it came against what may well be the league's worst team. But it was a nice way to start his career.
He'll get a slightly bigger test Monday night when the Eagles travel to Chicago to play the Bears in a nationally televised game. But nothing appears too big for the kid from North Dakota State.
He openly admits that he doesn't get nervous. "It's a game," he said before the win over the Browns, as if that explained everything. "I just try to go out there and have fun."
"This is who he is," Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said. "This is his DNA. He prepared like a five-, six-year veteran, and obviously, he played that way."
"He enjoyed himself from Day 1 when he got here," wide receiver Nelson Agholor said. "He knew what was in front of him, and he just continued to get better.
"You're going to see a guy who's going to prepare every day to be special. The results? I don't know what they'll be; you can't tell the future. But I know what the process is. It's one of somebody who wants to be special."
The initial plan when the Eagles traded up to take Wentz with the second pick in the draft was to have him spend the season watching and learning behind starter Sam Bradford and veteran backup Chase Daniel.
But then, two weeks ago, the Minnesota Vikings lost their starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, to a career-threatening knee injury, and called the Eagles about the availability of Bradford.
When Vikings general manager Rick Spielman offered his team's 2017 first-round pick and a 2018 conditional fourth-round pick for Bradford, the Eagles decided they couldn't say no, since they almost certainly were going to be either trading or releasing Bradford after the season to make way for Wentz anyway.
Even though Wentz missed three of the four preseason games with a pair of broken ribs, even though he started just 23 games at Division 1-AA North Dakota State, Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich felt Wentz was ready.
He threw six passes against the Browns that traveled 16 or more yards in the air and completed five of them for 120 yards and both of his touchdowns - a 35-yard pass to Agholor and a 19-yard scoring toss to Jordan Matthews.
He won't have one of his go-to receivers Monday night. Tight end Zach Ertz, who had six catches against the Browns, suffered a rib displacement and isn't expected to play.
