Carson Wentz hopes to be ready for Week 1

As the Philadelphia Eagles get ready to play in the Super Bowl, Carson Wentz spoke to the media for the first time about his torn ACL.

As the Philadelphia Eagles get set to depart for Minneapolis and play in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, Carson Wentz spoke to the media for first time since being injured. He tore his ACL on Dec. 10, with surgery happening quickly three days later. But according to multiple reports Wentz is hopeful he’ll be ready for Week 1 next season.

Wentz acknowledged his recovery timetable is fluid, and he announced he also suffered a torn LCL in his left knee. Week 1 would come right around nine months since the injury, which is the early end of a typical ACL recovery. The added LCL tear is not expected to alter Wentz’s recovery time.

Wentz was one of the front runners for league MVP when he was injured during a Week 14 win over the Los Angeles Rams, and when he went down Philadelphia’s Super Bowl chances seemed to go with him.

But the Eagles won their next two games with Nick Foles starting, and clinched home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. They beat the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Round, then easily dispatched the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game as Foles did his best Wentz impression (26-for-33 for 352 yards and three touchdowns).

Even after missing three full regular season games, Wentz finished second in the league in touchdown passes (33), he led the league in QBR (74.4) and he had the fourth-best passer rating in the league (101.9).

Next: Top 30 Super Bowl moments of all-time

Wentz will surely start training camp on the PUP list, and he’s unlikely to play in any preseason games. His status will remain a question from now practically up until Week 1, but right now optimism reigns for Wentz and the NFC champions.