Doug Pederson annoyed by Carson Wentz questions as Eagles open rookie camp

Doug Pederson kicked off his rookie-camp news conference Friday morning with a shout-out to the basketball team that plays across the street.

“How ‘bout those Sixers, right?’’ the Eagles coach said. “Stay alive. Game 7. Love it.’’

But it didn’t take long for an appearance from Angry Doug. OK, maybe not Angry Doug. His younger brother, Annoyed Doug.

The first three questions from reporters weren’t about any of the team’s five draft picks or 10 undrafted free agents in attendance at the three-day camp, but about the status of quarterback Carson Wentz.

“I’m not going to get too specific or detailed,’’ Pederson said. “He’s been working. We’re encouraged by his progress and where he’s at. Just looking forward to the next two weeks with him" before OTAs begin.

When he then was asked whether Wentz, who is recovering from a fractured vertebra in his back that kept him out of the Eagles’ last three regular-season games and both their playoff contests, would indeed be on the field for the start of OTAs on May 21, he asked, “How does that pertain to rookie minicamp?"

When asked if that meant he wasn’t going to say right now, he said, “No, not right now. Not until we get to that point.’’

Pederson acknowledged that Wentz has been on the field throwing during Phase II of the team’s offseason workouts. So, it’s fair to assume that he’ll participate in some of the OTA workouts and drills.

Some other highlights from Pederson’s news conference:

- First-round pick Andre Dillard will work strictly at left tackle for now. “We’re just trying to get his feet wet with the playbook and get him moving around,’’ Pederson said. “At this time, we’re going to keep him where he’s at and let him play there.’’

- Jordan Mailata, the former Aussie rugby player who made giant strides at tackle last year after the Eagles took him in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, probably will cross-train at left and right tackle this spring. He worked strictly at left tackle as a rookie.

“Yeah, this is a guy we can cross-train,’’ the Eagles coach said. “Maybe we cross-train him at both tackle spots. This is his second year in our system. This will be a big off-season for him. He’s a big-body guy. I think he’s athletic enough [to play on both sides]. We’ll see how it goes.’’

- Pederson said the main goal of the Eagles’ three-day rookie camp, which runs through Sunday, is to see how the 15 draft picks and free agents assimilate information.

“Particularly with our five draft picks, seeing how they handle the scheme that we’re presenting,’’ he said. “It’s hard to sit here and say, all right, he’s going to have this role or that role.

“We don’t know that yet. We’re not there. We’re not even close. But it gets the wheels turning as far as how we can use this player, how he can fit into our system. But those are all things that will get worked out in training camp.’’