Notes: On Foles, Cole And the Corner Spot

Nick Foles continues to work alongside his teammates at practice. He’s ditched the knit cap for a helmet and has ramped up his level of participation of late, signs that his fractured collarbone is on the mend. But it didn’t heal fast enough for Foles to make a return to the lineup this season.

Come Sunday, Mark Sanchez and Foles will have started the same number of games this year. Considering that he hasn’t been in the lineup since November 2 and has yet to play a full season in the NFL, has the coaching seen enough to know what they have in Foles?

“I think we know what we have in Nick,” said Pat Shurmur. “We’ve seen a guy that by last count I think is 14-4 as a starter (under Chip Kelly). So that’s really how you judge a quarterback.”

Foles was 6-2 as a starter in 2014 but his numbers dropped off significantly. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes and threw 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and lost three fumbles while working behind a largely makeshift offensive line.

As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, the quarterback’s overall grade still feels like an incomplete.

“There’s certainly areas where we all can get better, but the way he’s approached his rehab, if he continues through the offseason I’m really looking forward to what he can do next year,” said Shurmur.

Starting Corners

The coaching staff has not revealed whether Bradley Fletcher will start at left corner in the finale against the Giants, saying that there will be an ongoing evaluation during the week. Billy Davis suggested Nolan Carroll and Brandon Boykin have a chance to get the nod. Carroll, though, said that Fletcher received all the first-team reps at practice Tuesday.

“A little bit,” said Carroll, when asked if he’d be disappointed if he didn’t get the opportunity, “but it’s not my decision, not my call. I just do what I’m supposed to do, what they ask me to do, that’s it.”

Cole Returns

Trent Cole was back at practice after missing Saturday’s game with a broken hand. While many have compared Cole’s injury to the one that DeMarco Murray sustained against the Eagles, Cole suggested his was actually worse, saying his was a spiral fracture that ran from the hand all the way past the wrist. He had surgery recently to put a metal plate and screws in, and sported a mean looking scar with 20-plus stitches in it.

“I definitely want to play [against New York],” said Cole, “but I’m only going to do what my body is going to let me do.”