Nick Foles will officially start for Eagles against Falcons

Doug Pederson was originally not scheduled to meet with reporters on Monday morning but the Philadelphia Eagles head coach made a brief, surprise appearance ahead of Jim Schwartz’s press conference and officially confirmed what we’ve heard to this point: Nick Foles will be the Eagles’ starting quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons.

“Alright, this won’t take long,” Pederson started. “After consideration, and everything, and about the football team, and this decision, Nick Foles is the starter Week 1. My press conference will be tomorrow [Tuesday, September 4]. I’ll answer questions at that time. But I wanted you to hear it from me. It is about the football team and the best interest of the 53. And Nick Foles will be my starter Week 1. Thank you.”

Pederson’s announcement comes two days after NFL Network first reported it will be Foles — and not Carson Wentz — under center for Week 1. The announcement comes one day after Pederson ripped the local media for “putting words in his mouth” despite the fact it was a national reporter who broke the Foles story.

In any case, now it’s official: Foles will be the Eagles’ starter in the NFL kickoff game on Thursday evening.

Foles really struggled in the preseason but hopefully the reigning Super Bowl MVP will be able to bounce back. He’ll be aided by the fact that the Eagles are actually game-planning for their opponent.

With Foles starting Week 1, it’s still unclear when Wentz will return. Foles and Wentz have been splitting first team reps in practice since Wentz returned to 11-on-11 in mid-August. One former NFL doctor has opined that Wentz is still “multiple weeks away” from getting back to game action.