Wentz Diagnosed with Hairline Fracture In His Ribs

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Carson Wentz was at practice early Saturday morning but was held out of team drills, ostensibly because of sore ribs suffered against Tampa Bay in the preseason opener on Thursday night.

“If you were watching the game the other night, he took a shot – [it was] like [the] next-to-the-last play – got up a little bit slow,” head coach Doug Pederson said after the session. “So, he’s just sore today. [We] just wanted to protect him, so he didn’t throw.”

Turns out it was a little more than that.

A CT scan revealed that Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft, suffered a hairline fracture in his ribs due to the hit.

“Carson felt some discomfort and soreness as we began this morning’s practice," Pederson said after getting the bad news. "We decided to limit him throughout the remainder of practice and, as a precaution, sent him for a CT scan after practice. The scan revealed a hairline fracture in his ribs. We do not know an exact timetable for his return, but we hope to have him back before the end of the preseason.”

Wentz was supposed to be available to the media after practice today but a team spokesman said the rookie was undergoing treatment. Turns out the treatment was the CT scan that revealed the break.

Wentz was observed as the passenger in a car driving back to the NovaCare Complex after the testing and the former North Dakota State star was smiling and seemed to be comfortable.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen