Nick Foles still a ‘temp’ for Eagles despite recent play

Nick Foles Eagles Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has not thrown an interception in 136 passing attempts this season. Credit: Getty Images

Chip Kelly is keeping the door open for Michael Vick despite the fabulous play of Nick Foles these past two weeks. At this rate, Kelly is likely paranoid about injuries at the quarterback position and that is the main reason as to why he hasn’t yet put the “permanent QB” tag on Foles.

“Who’s up? Who’s available?” Kelly said Monday. “I’ve made this point before. I’ve had guys go down [with injury] on Friday. So why does it really matter who I say is the starter for next Sunday’s game?”

Kelly had named Vick the starter during training camp but says the situation at this stage in the season is entirely different.

“[Vick] had to get the reps,” Kelly said. “If I didn’t say anything, Nick goes: ‘I thought there was a competition, but Mike gets 10 snaps and I get two snaps. What’s going on here?
“It may be a scoop for all you guys, but first-team reps [on Tuesday], Nick’s gonna take ’em on Tuesday … We don’t have to make any decisions on anything [further] because Mike’s not going right now.”

Foles currently has the hottest arm in the NFL, having tossed 10 touchdown passes with no interceptions in the past two weeks, both Eagles victories. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the only other quarterback in NFL history to have thrown 10 or more TDs without a pick in a two-game span in one season (2007).

Foles and the Eagles have one more game, Sunday at home against the Redskins (1 p.m., FOX), before a much-needed bye week. Four of their final six games in the regular season will be played at Lincoln Financial Field.