The decision is not a huge surprise, given that Carson Wentz's surgeon, Dr. James Bradley, told NBC-10 reporter John Clark a day earlier that he thought it best to be cautious with the long-term future of the franchise. Wentz underwent ACL and LCL repairs to his left knee on Dec. 10. Medical studies show that athletes who return less than nine months after surgery tend to re-tear their ligaments up to 40 percent more frequently than those who wait nine months. The defending Super Bowl champs' opener comes eight months and three weeks after Wentz's surgery.
It isn't clear, doctors say, that a week this way or that way makes a huge difference, but one thing is clear — there is no harm in waiting another week or two, and a doctor who urges caution is not going to be second-guessed, in this circumstance.