Wentz participates in practice, says 'I like where I'm at'

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz took part in individual drills during organized team activites on Tuesday, less than five and a half months removed from surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left leg.

Wearing a brace on his left knee, Wentz went through the same drills as fellow signal-callers Nick Foles, Nate Sudfeld and Joe Callahan, dropping back, shuffling in the pocket and resetting to throw both left and right. He also threw routes on air with receivers.

Head coach Doug Pederson told reporters before practice that Wentz has yet to be medically cleared, but that he would be "involved in a handful of things" as part of his rehab.

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The 25-year-old QB also spoke to the media before Tuesday's work, expressing confidence in his progress.

"Every day it just gets a little better and a little more trust, little more faith in it," Wentz said of his knee. "At the same time, you've got to be smart. You've got to be smart with what the doctors are saying. I feel that I've made really good strides both mentally and physically. I like where I'm at."

He added that he "always gets antsy" this time of year as the team gets back to full-team drills, with the offense facing the defense. Wentz likely won't participate in such drills until training camp, but his on-field participation Tuesday is a good sign for his goal to return by Week 1 of the regular season.

Wentz isn't sure yet if he'll wear a brace during the season, but he doesn't want to use it as a "crutch."

"I'm just learning how to trust it, trust your knee, trust your movement, all of those things," he said. "That comes. That comes over time."

Also participating in individual drills on Tuesday was left tackle Jason Peters, who tore the ACL and medial collateral ligament in his right knee in October.

Peters said at the end of January that he had returned to running and had done an 845-pound leg press. He expected to be ready for offseason practices as he plans to continue his career "as long as I can."

The 36-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his 14-year career, but he had played in 62 of a possible 64 games over the previous four seasons before his 2017 campaign ended after seven games. Peters earned Pro Bowl nods every year from 2013-16, bringing his career total to nine.

One Eagles player appeared to suffer a potentially serious injury at Tuesday's practice, as linebacker Paul Worrilow was carted off with his knee in an air cast.

Philadelphia signed the 28-year-old to a one-year deal this offseason for depth. The Eagles re-signed Nigel Bradham and brought in Corey Nelson this offseason at the position, while Jordan Hicks continues to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

--Field Level Media

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