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Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Training Camp Battles to Watch

By George Stockburger

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Tropy after his teams 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Tropy after his teams 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 08: Nick Foles #9 hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy as team owner Jeffrey Lurie (L) Nate Sudfeld #7 and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles ride on a parade truck during festivities on February 8, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city celebrated the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LII championship with a victory parade. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 08: Nick Foles #9 hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy as team owner Jeffrey Lurie (L) Nate Sudfeld #7 and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles ride on a parade truck during festivities on February 8, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city celebrated the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LII championship with a victory parade. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

Third-string quarterback

Barring any injury or a Nick Foles trade the Eagles will enter 2018 with Foles and the recovering MVP candidate Carson Wentz. Whether or not Wentz is ready by week one is another story, but right now the focus is on who potentially backs up Foles if Wentz isn’t ready.

Philadelphia has two options on their current 90-man roster heading into training camp, Nate Sudfeld and Joe Callahan. Sudfeld was drafted by the Redskins with the 187th overall pick in 2016 but never saw the field for Washington. Philly picked him up for their practice squad last season, and added him to their 53-man roster in November to keep him in the organization.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Nick Foles #9 (R) of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up as injured quarterback Carson Wentz #11 (L) looks on before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Nick Foles #9 (R) of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up as injured quarterback Carson Wentz #11 (L) looks on before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Wentz’ injury a month later put a greater emphasis on Sudfeld’s development as Foles’ backup. With the NFC East in-hand entering week 17 Sudfeld saw his first game action and set an NFL record for completion percentage for a quarterback making his NFL debut (minimum 20 pass attempts) at 82.6%.

Philadelphia’s second option for the third-string is Joe Callahan, who grew up an hour south of Philadelphia in New Jersey. The former Wesley College quarterback signed as an undrafted free agent with Green Bay in 2016 and bounced between the Packers, Saints, and Browns.

Needing the depth at quarterback behind Wentz the Eagles signed Callahan to a two-year contract. He’s thrown seven passes in the NFL but doesn’t have as much familiarity as Sudfeld with the Eagles system and coaching staff.

Give Sudfeld the upper hand entering camp considering his experience and limited success, but Callahan will be right there with him this summer.

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