NFL roundup: Carson Wentz has torn ACL, ending 2017 campaign
By Brad Weiss
The Philadelphia Eagles have been the class of the NFC this season, but will have to play out the rest of the 2017 NFL season without Carson Wentz at QB.
During the first 14 weeks of the 2017 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles were the best team in football. On Sunday, the Eagles clinched the NFC East, but lost their star quarterback in the process. Carson Wentz was playing at an MVP level for the Birds, but he tore his ACL in the third quarter of the Eagles win against the Los Angeles Rams, and his season is officially over.
Staying with quarterbacks who are done for the season, New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown is also finished in 2017. McCown broke his left hand during the Jets shutout loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, leaving his future in the NFL up in the air. The veteran is 38-years old, and while the Jets may bring him back to mentor their young quarterback next season, his career as a starter is likely over.
Those same Jets will take on the New Orleans Saints this weekend, and the Saints may have one of their star running backs healthy. Alvin Kamara, who has been tremendous as a rookie this season, suffered a concussion in the team’s Thursday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons this past week. Kamara is expected to be ready to go on Sunday, where the Saints should be a heavy favorite against the Jets.
Aaron Rodgers is also hoping to get off the shelf, and the Green Bay Packers are currently awaiting word that he can be activated. Rodgers broke his collarbone over a month ago, and despite Brett Hundley having little experience in a regular season game, he has his Packers winning. Sitting at 7-6, the Packers are very much alive in the NFC Playoff hunt, and getting Rodgers back could make them a favorite if they can sneak their way into the big dance.
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Finally, it looks like the Dallas Cowboys finally found someone to shoulder the load without Ezekiel Elliott in the starting lineup. Rod Smith went off in the Cowboys 30-10 win against the New York Giants on Sunday, finding the end zone through the air, and on the ground. Smith racked up 115 yards receiving to go along with his 47 yards rushing, leading a Cowboys attack that was dominant throughout.