Nick Foles sure has had some rotten luck lately. After carrying the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title in 2017 and upsetting the Chicago Bears in the wild card round the next year, it feels like his fortunes have steadily gone downhill. His magic carpet ride in Philly ended with an interception off a dropped pass in New Orleans. Then one game into his new era with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he broke his collarbone. Upon returning he found out the job pretty much already belonged to rookie backup Gardner Minshew.
Now he gets traded to the Bears with a firm promise. He would enter a fair competition with Mitch Trubisky for the starting job. While head coach Matt Nagy has remained adamant that is the plan, the NFL itself continues to make that vow harder and harder to uphold. Already precious minicamps and OTAs were cut due to COVID-19 concerns. This has left Foles trapped in Florida waiting for training camp. All the while Trubisky has eagerly taken advantage of his ability to work out with teammates.
Now Foles' best avenue to make a big impression, the preseason, is fading away. Already the NFL cut the original four-game schedule down to two. Yet according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, ongoing discussions with the Players Association have reached a point where it may get reduced yet again.
Nick Foles will have to make a hell of an impression in camp
Belief in some circles is the preseason may get cut outright. The NFL is only delaying the inevitable. Players just want to go straight from an extended training camp straight into the regular season. Even if it does end up being only one game, how in the world can Foles make a positive enough impression when he'd have to share snaps with Trubisky in that contest. It's almost impossible to stake an evaluation of this magnitude on that.
This means Foles has one option. He has to bring his absolute best stuff to Halas Hall for training camp. That stretch of weeks through August could be the most important for his career. Despite no prior practice time with the receivers or tight ends. Despite having to acclimate to a new offensive system and despite having to play against a loaded defense every single practice. There is no choice. If he is going to fulfill his vow to win the job, he has to clearly outshine Trubisky in practice.
Actual game action is all but out of the question at this point.
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