Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Carson Wentz shows off improved mobility at start of OTAs

PHILADELPHIA -- Quarterback Carson Wentz was on the field as the Philadelphia Eagles opened OTAs Tuesday and showed off the progress he has made in his recovery from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.

While not medically cleared to practice, Wentz got in some throwing and was involved in the warmup period, which lasted around 20 minutes. Working on pocket movement drills, he showed a level of mobility that hadn't been seen since he injured the knee in December against the Los Angeles Rams.

"I'm just learning how to trust it -- learning how to trust your knee, trust your movement, all of those things. And that comes over time. Every day, it just gets a little better, a little more trust, a little more faith in it," said Wentz. "At the same time you've got to be smart, got to be smart with what the doctors are saying, but I feel I've made really good strides both mentally and physically, and I like where I'm at."

Wentz is not expected to practice this spring, but Tuesday showed that he is ramping up his activity and is still very much involved.

"It's part of his rehab. It's part of his process to getting back to 100 percent," said coach Doug Pederson. "It changes each day based on what our medical staff and doctors want him to do."

Recovery from ACL surgery typically takes nine to 12 months. Though the regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons is less than nine months from the time of Wentz's injury, that has remained his target date for return.

"Anytime you're rehabbing from any sort of injury, you have to be careful," he said. "There's days you feel great and you want to push it more, and there's days it's a little sore, it's a little tired, whatever. But it's just part of the process of coming back from an injury. You've just got to trust what the trainers are saying, what the doctors are saying, and just keep being smart with it."

Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles is receiving first-team reps while Wentz works his way back. Nate Sudfeld and the recently signed Joe Callahan are seeing action as well.

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