Former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is about to be under a heavy national spotlight.
The Indianapolis Colts will be the subjects of the first in-season edition of the “Hard Knocks” documentary series on HBO. The series, produced by NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, N.J., will premiere on Wednesday, November 17 and an episode will be released weekly throughout the remainder of the season.
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Eagles fans will have quite a few juicy storylines to follow in the series, as the Colts’ success (or failure) impacts Philadelphia’s draft future. The Eagles traded Wentz to the Colts in March for a third-round pick and a 2022 conditional second-round pick. The conditional pick can turn into a first-round selection if Wentz plays 75% of the Colts’ offensive snaps or plays 70% of the snaps and the Colts make the playoffs.
It’s been a somewhat rocky start for Wentz in Indianapolis after a disastrous conclusion to his career with the Eagles. Wentz, the Colts’ franchise quarterback, has dealt with everything from a nearly summer-long foot injury to a stint on the COVID-19 list. The Colts also lost their season-opener to the Seattle Seahawks, 28-16, and Wentz received negative reviews. In Week 1, Wentz was graded as the 27th of 32 starting quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus.
“Hard Knocks” will likely capture Wentz’s relationship with former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who is now the Colts’ head coach. It’ll also -- most likely -- take a look at Wentz off-the-field and in the locker room. Despite this summer’s adversity, Wentz was named a captain prior to the start of the season.
The series is also likely to take a look at the controversy involving Wentz’s refusal to discuss his COVID-19 vaccination status and the potential impact that could have on his in-season availability. Wentz has been heavily criticized in Indianapolis, Philadelphia and nationally for his apparent lack of desire to be vaccinated.
Wentz is no stranger to reality TV as he and the Eagles were featured during the 2019 season of “All or Nothing” on Amazon Prime. Similarly, the documentary series captured the Eagles’ ups and downs during the regular season. However, the show wasn’t released until after the campaign had concluded. “Hard Knocks” will offer a weekly peek at the Colts and Wentz while the season is still going on.
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Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com.
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