Eagles coach Chip Kelly: 'I have great faith' in quarterback Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly defended Nick Foles on Thursday, saying he has "great faith" in the quarterback, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
It had been reported Wednesday that some in the Eagles organization had "soured" on Foles as the long-term quarterback for the team after his play this season. Kelly refuted that notion Thursday. Kelly also denied that the team had been considering making a change at quarterback before Foles' injury last Sunday.
"I have great faith in Nick and I think he’s a hell of a quarterback," Kelly said, according to the Inquirer. "I think sometimes he gets banged too much, but I wish there was more people like Nick Foles in our lives.”
“What I know is I control the roster, and you guys can say first hand: I don’t talk to anybody," Kelly said. "Whoever says they have a source with what’s going to go on with roster maneuvers or people going up, and people going down, then they’re never talking to the right person, but that comes from me, and that never was the case."
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Foles fractured his collarbone in the Eagles' victory over the Houston Texans last week and is out for six to eight weeks. He's attended practice the past two days and is no longer wearing a sling, according to the Inquirer.
In his first significant playing time last season after he took over for Michael Vick, Foles, was the league's highest-rated passer, threw 27 touchdowns with just two interceptions, setting an NFL record for touchdown-to-interception ratio, and made the Pro Bowl.
Before his injury this season, Foles threw 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, the second-highest total in the league. He led the Eagles to a 5-2 record, with replacement Mark Sanchez receiving most of the playing time in the victory over the Texans.
Sanchez will start in place of Foles until he returns from injury. In five seasons with the Jets, Sanchez started 62 games and six playoff games from 2009-12 for the New York Jets, helping take the team to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two season. He fell out of favor in New York, though, due to his high volume of turnovers and the team's inconsistent offense.
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Against Houston, Sanchez went 15-for-22 for 202 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Eagles are 6-2 after beating the Texans and are in first place in the NFC East. They host the Carolina Panthers (3-5-1) on Monday.
- Ben Estes
