Eagles exercise Carson Wentz’s fifth-year option, keeping QB under contract through 2020 season

The Eagles exercised quarterback Carson Wentz’s fifth-year option on Monday, an expected move that was made at this time because the deadline was this week.

By exercising the option, the Eagles keep Wentz under contract through the 2020 season. This does not preclude the team from agreeing to a contract extension with Wentz, but it ensures the Eagles have control of the quarterback for at least two more seasons -- and potentially more, if it reaches that point and they decide to utilize the franchise tag.

The Eagles have been public about keeping Wentz in Philadelphia on a long-term deal, so he likely wouldn’t play on the fifth-year option unless the two sides cannot agree on a new contract in the next 15 months. The fifth-year option is not guaranteed unless the player is injured. It will come with a salary of more than $22 million for Wentz; he will count $8.49 million against the salary cap this season.

Wide receiver Nelson Agholor is set to play on his fifth-year option this season, although offensive tackle Lane Johnson is an example of a player who never played on his option year because the team had given him a new contract.

The Eagles begin organized team activities next month, and Wentz, 26, hopes that he can be back on the field by then. He has been recovering from a stress fracture in his back that halted his season in December. It was the second consecutive season Wentz finished on the sideline.

Nate Sudfeld is expected to be the No. 2 quarterback this season, but he will need to beat fifth-round pick Clayton Thorson. The Eagles also have Luis Perez from the now-defunct Alliance of American Football on their roster.