NFL Rumors: Should Philadelphia Eagles Rookie QB Nick Foles Expect Any Playing Time in 2012?
One of the big storylines for the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles is the backup quarterback to starter Michael Vick.
Heading into camp, it was expected that third-year quarterback Mike Kafka would be named the backup, and Jeff McLane at philly.com reports that Kafka has all but clinched the backup spot just two weeks into training camp.
Veteran Trent Edwards would probably be better suited as the third quarterback than rookie Nick Foles, but the Eagles are going to keep just three QBs this season, meaning Edwards is the odd man out.
For the Eagles, the health of Michael Vick is the most important aspect of the entire season. As Vick goes, so do the Eagles, and that was shown in 2010 as Vick turned in an MVP-caliber season and led the Eagles to a division title, and it was shown in 2011 as Vick couldn’t stop turning the ball over and the Eagles finished with an 8-8 record.
If/when Vick gets hurt in 2012, the backup quarterback will be Kafka, who has thrown just 16 passes in his NFL career. Kafka’s performance in 2012 could be a huge key for the Eagles this season. Take a look at veteran backup Jeff Garcia saving the season in 2006, Kevin Kolb keeping it alive in 2009, and Vince Young destroying it in 2011. Backups are everything.
That being said, will Nick Foles play at all in 2012? Should the third-round rookie quarterback expect to even step onto the field?
I would predict no.
The Eagles do not like to play rookie quarterbacks. Sure, Donovan McNabb started the final stretch of games in 1999, but he was the number two overall pick. Foles was a third round pick.
Look at Kevin Kolb in 2007. He was a second round pick and he took just a few snaps all year, and they came at the end of a 56-21 blowout victory over the Detroit Lions. That’s all for the year.
Kafka didn’t come near the field in 2010. He only played in weeks 2 and 3 of 2011 because Vince Young was hurt and couldn’t come in when Vick was knocked out.
So, no, I do not expect to see Foles at all in 2012. Kafka will play when Vick is injured and I would actually expect the Eagles to bring back Trent Edwards for a midseason start instead of letting rookie Nick Foles make a start.
If he plays, you know there has been a problem. A big problem.
This article was written by Bryn Swartz, the top writer for the Philadelphia Eagles and a featured NFL columnist on Rant Sports. Bryn has written more than 1000 articles in less than two years as a member of Rant Sports. His blog, Eagles Central, was named the 2010 Ballhyped Sports Blog of the Year. To read a portfolio of Bryn’s best work, click here.
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