PHILADELPHIA - Until Thursday night's preseason opener, the highlight of Eagles quarterback Trent Edwards' summer was serving as a volunteer during the U.S. Open golf championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco in late June.
He spent the first two weeks of Eagles' training camp mostly standing around while Michael Vick, Mike Kafka and rookie Nick Foles took all the reps.
When he finally got a chance to leave the sideline in the fourth quarter of Thursday's game against Pittsburgh, Edwards delivered. The free agent pickup completed 12 of 20 passes for 106 yards with one touchdown and also set up Alex Henery's game-winning field goal in a 24-23 victory.
"I'm not one of those people that gets frustrated," Edwards said. "I've had conversations with our offensive coordinator (Marty Mornhinweg) and I know my role. I completely understand the situation. It doesn't matter how many reps I get. At the end of the game, I still want the ball in my hands with a chance to win."
Foles, the Eagles' third-round draft pick out of the University of Arizona, also played well. Meanwhile, Kafka struggled, thereby creating the ever-popular quarterback controversy.
There is no doubt that Michael Vick is the starter, but his main backup has yet to be determined. Kafka was the frontrunner until he threw a costly interception against the Steelers. Foles completed 6 of 10 passes for 144 yards and displayed a strong arm while throwing two touchdown passes. Edwards showed poise while guiding the fourth-string offense to a touchdown and field goal in his two possessions.
"You know me and you have been around me long enough to know that everything is wide open," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "I keep it wide open at all positions. Whoever is playing the best is going to play. We keep it nice and simple that way."
