Start panicking about Carson Wentz and the Eagles, it’s ugly

We’ve let enough time pass: Carson Wentz and the Eagles are a problem, and not in a good way

Wentz threw a miserable interception for his fifth of the season early in the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals. Win or lose, Wentz is not right, and he doesn’t have the weapons around him to overlook his poor play. Sure, Alshon Jeffery is close to coming back, but that doesn’t change the fact that Jalen Reagor is likely out a few weeks. Miles Sanders is under-utilized. Zach Ertz is about the only reliable target Wentz has, but once again that’s not enough to mask the bad decision making the 27-year-old has shown repeatedly so far this season.

But that’s the problem — it’s not just three games of work. Wentz hasn’t been himself since he made the Pro Bowl in 2017. Some of that can be attributed to injury, but that’s not an excuse for below-average quarterback play for better than three seasons.

The Eagles don’t have the machinery to fix Wentz

Philadelphia’s offensive line is makeshift at best, with Jason Peters filling in at a tackle position he wasn’t supposed to play this season. Wentz hasn’t been protected consistently at all this season, meaning the few times he’s proven himself capable of a starting QB job in this league, he’s ended up on the ground far too frequently. There’s no silver lining through three weeks of action.

As much as Doug Pederson would prefer we avoid the topic of Wentz, media will continue to ask questions about his poor play. Yet, that’s only fair. Wentz is signed to a $128 million deal through 2025. He’ll be 32 years old then, and the lack of positive progression fans have seen the last few seasons makes it hard to believe he’ll live out the course of his contract in Philly. The Eagles cap situation is atrocious the next few seasons, and trading Wentz wouldn’t be easy.

Pederson and Howie Roseman have little option but to ride out Wentz, hoping he’ll suddenly return to his 2017 form. Sadly, he’s shown no signs of life thus far.