Reich's Colts crash Wentz comeback party in Philadelphia

Carson Wentz starts for the first time since Dec. 10, 2017, when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Wentz was in the conversation for Most Valuable Player last December when he suffered a tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament in the Eagles' 43-35 win on the road against the Los Angeles Rams. While Wentz was wounded, backup quarterback Nick Foles went on to lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl championship.

Foles started the first two games for the Eagles (1-1) this season before Wentz was fully cleared.

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson elevated Wentz to the starting role as soon as doctors gave him the green light.

"It's been positive," Pederson said of the atmosphere in the locker room. "The guys have been very receptive. They've been very complimentary of Nick as well. That's good to see. We're blessed to have two special quarterbacks. Obviously now with Carson coming back, they're excited to -- as they say, the band is slowly coming together. This is one piece of it."

Wentz, now in his third season, guided the Eagles to an 11-2 record before the season-ending injury in 2017. After an 18-12 season opening win over the Atlanta Falcons, the Eagles fell 27-21 at Tampa Bay last Sunday.

The Eagles were dealt a blow at wide receiver with the loss of Mike Wallace for several weeks. They signed former wideout Jordan Matthews for a second stint with the organization. Veteran wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has yet to play with a shoulder injury and it's unlikely he'll play Sunday.

Pederson did confirm that All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters will play after leaving last week's game in Tampa Bay with a thigh injury.

The Colts are also off to a 1-1 start with a 34-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and a 21-9 win on the road against the Washington Redskins.

Oft-injured quarterback Andrew Luck was 21 of 31 for 179 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Redskins.

Meanwhile, Colts rookie linebacker Darius Leonard was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after compiling 18 tackles (15 solo), a forced fumble and a sack against the Redskins.

Leonard's performance helped secure the first career win for head coach Frank Reich, formerly the Eagles' offensive coordinator.

"I just went out and tried to play every play -- tried to make a play," Leonard said. "Coach has always said linebackers gotta hit the ball each and every play, and that's something that I wanted to do. And I tried to (come) out, and that's what I did -- tried to hit the ball."

Reich will be looking a second straight win for his new franchise in a familiar spot -- Lincoln Financial Field.

"Yeah, it's special," Reich told reporters. "A lot of times in this business, usually when you are going back someplace, you are usually going back to someplace you got fired from and so this isn't like that. I have nothing but great memories and tremendous experience in the two years there. I couldn't have a higher opinion of the organization and the people there."

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)