PHILADELPHIA -- During the Philadelphia Eagles' first open practice at Lincoln Financial Field this summer, chants of "Carson! Carson!" filled the stadium. The cries changed to "We want Wentz!" as the rookie finished signing autographs afterward and ran into the tunnel, slapping hands with fans hanging over the railing on his way in.
The fans have gotten their wish.
The Eagles traded Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick in 2017 and a fourth-rounder in 2018. According to NFL Insider Adam Caplan, the plan is to start Wentz Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns if he has recovered from a hairline rib fracture.
The plan to develop Wentz behind the scenes has gone out the window. The storyline for 2016 now revolves almost entirely around the rookie out of North Dakota State, and whether he's ready for the massive job he has just been handed.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET
Wentz is just getting over the sore ribs and will have plenty of rookie moments (if he plays), but the defense does enough to get past a less-than-magnificent Browns team. Record: 1-0.
Week 2: Monday, Sept. 19 at Chicago Bears, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Bears aren't expected to be a juggernaut, but neither are the Eagles. The new-look offense hits a few snags during its first road test. Loss. Record: 1-1.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Eagles looked good in a 17-0 shutout of the Steelers in Week 2 of the preseason, but Ben Roethlisberger and the bulk of his playmakers sat that one out. Could be a slightly different story this time around. Loss. Record: 1-2.
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Andy Reid went 13-1 off the bye week during his time in Philadelphia. Surely his protégé was taking notes. Win. Record: 2-2.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16 at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
The Eagles build some buzz with a road win over a team that many are picking to win the NFC East. City goes crazy over Wentz. Win. Record: 3-2.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
City cools down. Bradford delivers his old team a blow. Loss. Record: 3-3.
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30 at Dallas Cowboys, 8:30 p.m. ET
Not great timing here. Tony Romo returns from a fractured back and lifts a sagging Cowboys team to its first win in several weeks. Loss. Record: 3-4.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6 at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET
The Eagles have a three-game winning streak going at MetLife Stadium -- twice with Kelly as the coach and once when Pat Shurmur was the interim coach. Pederson gets into the act to help the Eagles back to .500. Win. Record: 4-4.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
Julio Jones’ nine-catch, 141-yard, two-touchdown performance in a season-opening win over the Eagles last season served as a reality check when it came to expectations for both Byron Maxwell and the Eagles as a team. Schwartz’s group hits a similar snag. Loss. Record: 4-5
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
One of my favorite trips of the year. Great city, incredible stadium and fans, a chance to catch up with my old friend Sheil Kapadia (of Seahawks NFL Nation fame) and most important, coffee served directly to your seat in the press box. Unfortunately, visiting teams aren’t treated quite as warmly. Loss. Record: 4-6.
Week 12: Monday, Nov. 28 vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:30 p.m. ET
Tough stretch continues with a home tilt against the Packers. Not sure the cornerbacks are up for what Aaron Rodgers has in store for them. Loss. Record: 4-7.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
The NFL doesn’t always make sense. The Bengals are the better team and should win this one, but then, who had the slumping Eagles winning in Foxborough last season less than a month before Kelly got fired? Win. Record: 5-7.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11 vs. Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
And sometimes, things play out as they should. After allowing the Eagles to win on its home turf, Washington returns the favor as part of a second-half surge. Loss. Record: 5-8.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18 at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
A well-coached Ravens team proves to be too much for the rookie QB. Loss. Record: 5-9.
Week 16: Thursday, Dec. 22 vs. Giants, 8:25 p.m. ET
Signs of progress as the offense begins to take flight under Wentz. But the Eagles lose in a shootout. Record: 5-10.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1 vs. Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET
The season ends on a high note, though, with Wentz putting together a big-time performance to guide the Eagles to a win over the rival Cowboys. A nice little springboard into the future. Win. Record: 6-10.