Carson Wentz may indeed be trending toward being ready for the Colts' season-opener with the Seahawks, but team owner Jim Irsay said on Thursday that the team has no official timetable for their quarterback's return from foot surgery. Irsay said the Colts won't play Wentz until he is back at full strength. Wentz underwent surgery earlier this month after injuring his foot during training camp.
"You have to be right. We want you to be 100 percent before you come back," Irsay said, via Charlie Clifford of WISH TV. "If it is Seattle, so be it, if not -- it is when he is ready. No one knows for sure."
Coach Frank Reich offered a positive update on Wentz's recovery on Wednesday. Wentz was seen at practice earlier this week without a walking boot.
"I don't mind telling you, they're doing exceedingly well. But it is still early," Reich said. "All indications at this point, for what you would hope for from them, we're getting that plus. So, you can't really tell until you get out there and test it. We know we're a week or so away from that happening at a more significant level but all signs are pretty positive right now. Now, where that comes out, Week 1, 2, we don't know but we'll find out soon enough."
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Despite his lack of pro experience, Jacob Eason has displayed promise during training camp. Offensive coordinator Marcus Brady has lauded Eason's understanding of the playbook as well as his ability to read the defense before the snap. Eason has also displayed his considerable arm strength that helped him throw for more than 3,100 yards and 23 touchdowns during his only season as the University of Washington's starting quarterback.
"He has to prepare like he's starting Week 1," Reich said of Eason, via Zak Keefer of The Athletic. "We don't know if that'll happen or not, but he's gotta be ready. And we're gonna trust him in that process and support him and get behind him.
"The job is Jacob's right now. He's gotta prove it. He knows that. He's in the driver's seat, he's getting reps with the (first-team offense), and I'm believing that this is going to work out the way we want it to work out … we're gonna see what he's made of."
As previously reported, the Colts do not have any plans on trading for a veteran quarterback. Nick Foles, who won a Super Bowl with the Eagles after replacing an injured Wentz in 2017, was asked about the possibility of being traded to Indianapolis earlier this month.
"Listen, Frank Reich is one of the favorite -- if not my favorite -- coaches of all time," Foles said. "He understands me as a player, he understands me as a person. I haven't had any talks with them (Colts about a trade). I'm a Chicago Bear right now, but he knows me.
"You all watched the 2017 season and the playoffs where he changed the offense and built it around me. He understood my mentality as a player and he was able to build it around me and put me in a successful position."
