Quarterback Carson Wentz called his five years with the team “ a great journey, ” saying goodbye to the Eagles, his former teammates and the city of Philadelphia on Friday.
Wentz posted a lengthy post on his Instagram account a day after league sources told ESPN that he had been traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2021 third-round preliminary pick and a 2022 second-round conditional pick that would can develop into a first round.
He wrote in part, “When one chapter ends, another begins.”
In Indianapolis, Wentz reunites with Colts head coach Frank Reich, his former Philadelphia attack coordinator, and helps fill the void left by Philip Rivers’s retirement. The Eagles will likely turn to Jalen Hurts, although they also plan to bring in competition for him, as the runway is not expected to automatically move to the now sophomore QB.
Trading Wentz marks the end of an unexpected chapter and year with the Eagles. He went from a former MVP candidate to backing up Hurts – a rookie second round pick in 2020 – as his relationship with former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson fell apart.
Wentz wanted to leave Philadelphia, even though the Eagles hired former Colts attack coordinator Nick Sirianni as their new head coach.
Reich, who was Indianapolis’ head coach for the past three years, was the Philadelphia offensive coordinator for Wentz’s first two NFL seasons in 2016 and ’17. With Reich at the helm, Wentz will take the reins of a Colts bout that finished 10th in the NFL last season in all-out attack and ninth in scoring.