Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz said his back is “still healing.”

The original estimated timeline provided by Eagles coach Doug Pederson was three months. That benchmark passed in March, so the fact that the stress fracture was not declared healed has led fans to worry.

Certainly, talking about the back stress fracture in the past tense would be more assuring. However, this isn’t necessarily a setback. Stress fractures take time that is measured in multiple months.

That is why we were so firm in our declarations last year that “Wentz will not play again this season, no matter how far the Eagles go in the playoffs” even though the Eagles were giving false hope by not committing to who their quarterback would be each week.


The fact Wentz’s stress fracture is not healed yet shouldn’t come as a shock.

We wrote late last year that Wentz’s back may be something to keep watching beyond that season. And it is still something to keep an eye on.

Healing is expected but not guaranteed.

The lack of blood flow to this area is what creates the situation but also makes healing more difficult than a typical traumatic fracture.


“That’s the goal,” Wentz said Monday, when asked if he would be ready for next month’s OTAs.

The fan base should not freak out if it doesn’t happen. When dealing with a spondyolysis (back stress fracture) injury, it is better to be safe than sorry, as rushing it could lead to a permanent non-healing injury that could require surgery.

Wentz does say that he is “feeling good,” “taking it week by week” and that he’s started “throwing some” and “running some.”

Indeed, waiting for a stress fracture to heal is slower than watching grass grow.


So it is not time for Eagles fans to panic. It simply remains something to watch.