Eagles rookie Nick Foles eager to learn from veteran quarterbacks

Eagles QB Nick Foles saw his first NFL action against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Foles said he approaches his job one play at a time. (US Presswire)

Nick Foles is smart enough to know he's really not that smart, at least as far as playing quarterback in the NFL is concerned. The Eagles rookie is also smart enough to seek out those who are, especially teammates Michael Vick and Trent Edwards, who have played quarterback in a combined 163 NFL games, and quarterbacks coach Doug Pederson, who played in 100.

That's 263 games of experience to Foles' one game -- actually, it's just half a game, since he replaced Vick late in the second quarter of last week's 38-23 loss to Dallas. And the rookie said he'll do everything he can to soak up as much knowledge as quickly as possible before Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.

“I lean on everyone,'' Foles said. “I think that'd be dumb for me not to ask them [questions] because they've experienced so much and they've played for so long. I want to know everything they know. They're going to help me and I want to ask questions. I want them to teach me everything they can.''

Foles has had to learn a lot in a short amount of time. He rarely got reps with the first team until this week and Sunday's relief appearance against the Cowboys was the first time he had thrown a football against competition since the preseason.

His teammates certainly didn't know what to expect and they were pleased with the poise and professionalism the rookie showed in his first NFL action.

“That's what's so surprising about him,'' tight end Brent Celek said. “He's very calm, he plays within the offense and he doesn't get rattled.”

That is one thing Foles said he has already learned -- don't try to do too much or you'll end up in trouble.

“I think that's the key,'' he said. “When you play any football game, you play within yourself and within your talents. No matter what the situation, you play it one play at a time. I have 10 other guys in the huddle who want to play their butts off and do their job. If everybody does their job, we're going to be successful.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.