Jalen Hurts, who the Philadelphia Eagles selected in the second round of the draft, has been named the team’s starting quarterback. Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts will start for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, sending Carson Wentz to the bench.

Eagles Coach Doug Pederson made the announcement Tuesday on the team’s website.

“We’re not where we want to be as an offense,” Pederson said. “I looked at the whole thing and decided that for this week to look for that spark again to try to get the team over the hump, to try to get everybody playing better.”

Pederson insisted Monday the decision was his, even though Wentz’s $128 million, four-year contract begins in 2021. Hurts replaced Wentz in the third quarter of a 30-16 loss to Green Bay and completed 5 of 12 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown, one interception and took three sacks.

“Carson is like all of us right now, he’s disappointed. He’s frustrated,” Pederson said. “He’s been a professional through it all. He supports his teammates and that’s what you want to see from him, the leader of the team. I know sometimes the quarterback gets a lot of the blame like the head coach does. It’s the good with the bad. It’s not about Carson Wentz. It’s not about one person. We know we have issues on offense and it has been a struggle for us all season. That’s where the frustration lies a little bit, but he’s been a pro and would expect nothing less.”

Pederson and Wentz came to Philadelphia in 2016. They led the Eagles to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title in 2017. Wentz was 11-2 before a knee injury forced him to watch Nick Foles lead the Eagles through the playoffs and victory over New England.

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Wentz finished third in NFL MVP voting that season, and last year he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards without one wide receiver having 500 yards receiving.

But Wentz has a career-low 72.8 passer rating this season and 19 turnovers, including 15 interceptions. He hasn’t had much help. The injury-depleted offensive line has allowed 53 sacks, and his young, inexperienced receivers often aren’t open.

“Carson’s been a big part of the success that we’ve had,” Pederson said. “He was on that championship team that got us to that level. Even in ’18 and ’19 he led the team and got us into the postseason and I know we can get back to that level. That’s why I have so much confidence in him.”

Hurts was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick this year when the Eagles had far more pressing needs. Now the 2019 Heisman Trophy runner-up gets his first opportunity as an NFL starter.

“I just want to see development. I think it’s a great opportunity for him, a great opportunity for the team,” Pederson said.

STEELERS: Cornerback Steven Nelson will attempt to practice on Wednesday and could be available for the Steelers’ game against Buffalo on Sunday. The same holds true for kicker Chris Boswell, who sat out Pittsburgh’s loss to Washington on Monday evening with a hip injury.

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The nature of inside linebacker Robert Spillane’s injury is uncertain, but his potential absence opens the door for Avery Williamson, acquired in a trade with the New York Jets earlier this season.

TITANS: Tennessee put wide receiver Adam Humphries on injured reserve, two days after he played his first game after a month in the concussion protocol.

The Titans also put punter Trevor Daniel from the practice squad on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.

Humphries got a concussion when he was hit in a loss to Cincinnati on Nov. 1, and he missed the next four games before clearing the concussion protocol last week. He also missed the win over Buffalo while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He has 23 catches for 228 yards and two TDs this season.

The receiver played in the Titans’ 41-35 loss to Cleveland on Sunday, catching one of four passes thrown to him. One pass went out of his hands to a Browns defensive back for an interception late in the third quarter. Humphries will be able to return to the active roster for the regular-season finale Jan. 3 at Houston.

CARDINALS: Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list after a two-game absence.

The 37-year-old Fitzgerald, who went on the list on Nov. 26, has caught 43 passes for 336 yards this season in 10 games.

His presence will be welcome as the Cardinals try to snap a three-game losing streak when they face the New York Giants on Sunday. Arizona has a 6-6 record and is two games behind the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks for the top of the NFC West.


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