Carson Wentz caps off preseason with solid effort - and most important - is healthy

All told, Carson Wentz took 49 snaps this preseason – only 10 more than last year when fractured ribs limited the then-rookie to one game.

The sample might have been small – too small for some considering how little he played last preseason and his relative youth – but the Eagles saw enough from their quarterback. Wentz engineered touchdown drives on two of four possessions Thursday night against the Dolphins and was hooked after just a quarter.

Doug Pederson emphasized Sept. 10 several times when asked earlier in training camp why he was resting Alshon Jeffery. But getting Wentz to the regular-season opener without another setback was of the utmost importance.

"Shoot, 16 games last year I was healthy," Wentz said. "Got good work in over the preseason. I don't think it was overkill, but it was a good number and I feel confident going forward."

He now has more than two weeks to prepare for the Redskins – Wentz and the starters will sit for next week's finale at the New York Jets – and nine more days than he had last September after the Eagles shockingly traded Sam Bradford.

If getting Wentz to the regular season was goal No. 1, then having him show progress – any progress – was a close second. It's difficult to write with any certainty that he has made substantial improvement. Wentz didn't even play three quarters this preseason. But there were enough signs.

"He did all right," wide receiver Torrey Smith said. "Obviously, it was a short sample and people are going to dissect a lot of things. But I think he made some plays."

[Offense looks sharper, starters make an early exit]

He made several strong throws in the Eagles' 38-31 win over Miami. Wentz hooked up with Smith for a 50-yard touchdown on his first drive. He hit a slanting Zach Ertz for 18 yards on the next series. He roped a 20-yard completion to Jeffery over the middle two drives later. And four plays later  he went back to the receiver for a 15-yard score.

Wentz completed 6 of 10 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and overall on the preseason he was 16 of 23 for 241 yards and three touchdowns, along with one interception. He had a passer rating of 125.2.

The lone interception came against the Dolphins and was an accurate representation of Wentz's performance on the whole. He wasn't nearly perfect. The same could be said of his entire preseason. But even the simplest of passes can be problematic when you have defenders in your face.

Wentz's protection in all three games was below average, to put it mildly. He was sacked a total of three times and hit  on six other occasions. Perhaps he held the ball too long on the Eagles' second possession. Wentz avoided an unblocked defender off play-action, but he took a blow before throwing into the dirt.

[Sielski: By their own measure, Eagles have to rate this preseason a success]

The starting offensive line hadn't played together in the first two games, but the unit — Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, and Isaac Seumalo — was intact against the Dolphins and the results weren't much steadier. Blocking from tight ends and running backs has been just as uneven.

"We know we can be dynamic on offense," Wentz said. "Last week, we had three three-and-outs. That's not our style of football."

It won't matter how much Wentz has developed this offseason if his protection isn't consistent and he doesn't have enough time in the pocket. Pederson may have seen enough of his quarterback on the ground when he called it a night for his first-team offense, but an impressive six-play finish on the final possession — as it went up tempo — may have been the impetus.

Wendell Smallwood ran for 10 yards. Wentz hit Jeffery for 20. LeGarrette Blount was stopped for no gain, but Wentz zipped to Ertz for 12. Blount then burst through a hole for 16. And Wentz capped the series when he moved the Miami defense with his eyes toward receiver Nelson Agholor — who was in the flat — and tossed to the open Jeffery as he slanted toward the goal line.

It was a positive way for Jeffery to end his first preseason with the Eagles. He was held out of the first game, but caught 4 of 9  targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. There may be legitimate concern about his ability to play in all 16 games, but when he's on the field there isn't a defense that isn't paying extra attention to his side.

Smith hadn't caught a pass in the first two preseason games. Only 13 were thrown when he played, so the odds weren't especially great. But he got on the board when he streaked beyond the Miami secondary and pulled in a high-arching Wentz heave for the first touchdown. The Dolphins' blew the coverage, but the Eagles took advantage.

Agholor caught only one pass from Wentz in three games. The chemistry the quarterback had with his predecessor in the slot, Jordan Matthews, is not yet there. It may never be. But will it matter if Ertz gets many of the throws that used to go to Matthews?

[Eagles O-line cleaned up run game, couldn't protect Wentz]

The next 16 games – minus next week's Matt McGloin mania – will provide the answer to that question and so many that have been posed during camp and the preseason. But Wentz has looked better throughout, there is no doubt. His mechanics are cleaner. He has been more accurate.

Have there been throws to quibble with? Sure. Wentz threw to a double-covered Jeffery on his first attempt against the Dolphins. The pass that was picked off was batted at the line.

As the 6-foot-6, 309-pound Jordan Phillips returned the interception, Wentz backed up and waited for his teammates to make the tackle. But when Phillips broke his way, he ducked his head and tried to trip the defensive tackle.

Phillips didn't go down.

"I was trying to not get hurt," Wentz said. "Not my proudest moment trying to make that tackle. He just tip-toed right over me."

Almost no one will remember. It would have been the opposite if Wentz had needlessly gotten hurt.

jmclane@phillynews.com
@Jeff_McLane