Carson Wentz embracing Eagles' decision to draft Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles’ decision to draft Jalen Hurts in second round has been one of most intensely debated NFL topics over past 10 days. Carson Wentz isn’t questioning it. “I’m excited to add him to team,” Wentz said Monday. “I kw how important quarterback position is and how important dynamic is for me and or guys in that room. I’ve been blessed to have t just incredible quarterbacks but incredible humans and friends in that quarterback room. We really endure a lot toger and go through a lot toger. ... Excited to add him to fold and create a really good and healthy competitive, challenging environment for all of us.”

Eagles picked TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor in first round and used . 53 pick to draft ar quarterback instead of adding ar playmaker on offense to help ir franchise quarterback. team n stocked up on speedy wideouts on Day 3, acquiring speedster Marquise Goodwin from 49ers, and drafting Boise State’s John Hightower in fifth round and Sourn Mississippi’s Quez Watkins in sixth. Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins was on board when personnel boss Howie Roseman chose Hurts. Dobbins went two picks later to Baltimore, which had league’s top rushing offense in 2019. “If I were to start questioning Howie and manment w, I’d really be questioning myself,” said Wentz, who signed a $128 million, four-year contract extension last summer. “When I signed deal that I did, it was really my way of showing that I trust and believe in what we’re doing in Philly and y trust and believe in me, so I have thing but confidence and excited to get to work.”

Hurts transferred from Alabama to Oklahoma after losing his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa and was runnerup for Heisman Trophy last year when he threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns. Eagles will look to develop his skills and perhaps use him in variety of ways on offense.

“All I’ve wanted to do is win and stand up re and hold that Lombardi trophy,” said Wentz, who was forced to watch from sideline when a knee injury ended his sophomore season and Nick Foles led team to franchise’s first Super Bowl title. “Whatever that takes and whatever that looks like, I’m on board. I’m a competitor. I want to be out re. I want to have ball in my hands; we all do. But at same time, whatever is going to help us win, I’m confident coaches and everyone is going to put us in best situation.”

Wentz led an injury-depleted offense to four straight wins in December with a group of receivers off practice squad and waiver wire. Eagles won NFC East title but lost to Seattle in a wild-card game after Wentz suffered a concussion in first quarter. “It’s scary stuff,” Wentz said of concussion. “It kind of changes a lot of things in your brain, and you only get one of se brains and you’ve got to protect it. It was tough to see finish of that game. That was end of our season. It was frustrating t to be out re.” Wentz became a first-time dad last week when his wife, Madison, gave birth to a daughter, Hadley Jayne. He’s been able to spend more time with his family because teams are conducting offseason workouts virtually during coronavirus shutdown.

Wentz’s AO1 Foundation had to cancel its annual charity softball game that was scheduled for Friday at Citizens Bank Park, home of Phillies. Instead, his foundation, which already allocated $100,000 toward an initiative for coronavirus relief efforts in Philadelphia area will host a “day of relief” on Friday. It's a “24-hour virtual fundraising campaign to support its latest initiative, Love From Crumb.”

“It’s a fun, interactive way to give back,” Wentz said. “To just give grocery boxes to people on front line, people struggling in need, that’s been fun to see people be blessed during se challenging and difficult time we’re living in.”