For weeks, as Nick Foles has continued to rack up absurd numbers in Eagles coach Chip Kelly’s offense, Kelly has refused to say anything more than that Foles is the starter for the next week.
Now Kelly has made it official: At a Tuesday press conference, Kelly said Foles is the starter not only this week but, if all goes according to plan, for the rest of the season. Kelly said he expects Michael Vick to be healthy enough to play this week, but Vick will be the backup.
Although Kelly played coy, everyone knew this had to be the call: You don’t bench a quarterback who’s playing the way Foles is playing. Foles has completed 103 of 162 passes for 1,554 yards, with 16 touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating of 128.0 would break the all-time single-season NFL record if he can keep it up for the rest of the year.
On Sunday Foles will get a tough test against a good Cardinals defense. Kelly said Foles doesn’t need to worry about losing his job if he struggles. Chip Kelly’s offense is now Nick Foles’s offense.