Matt Barkley still vying for No. 2 spot

Nick Foles, Matt Barkley and Mark Sanchez have a close bond (all of them went to Pac 12 schools). Credit: Charles Mostoller, Metro

Matt Barkley had a trial under fire last season when he jumped into action as Eagles QB1 after injuries to Nick Foles and Michael Vick in 2013.

Now in 2014, he has a year of experience under his belt and is starting to get more and more comfortable with Chip Kelly’s offense. Could he leapfrog Mark Sanchez and earn the bonafide backup role?

“Who knows what can happen,” Barkley said after the Eagles finished their public practice at Franklin Field. “I think If I play my best something can happen. I have to do as much as I can do to be consistent and move the ball down the field.”

Barkley threw Friday’s only Eagles’ touchdown pass against the Bears, but he also threw an interception and was not particularly accurate, completing passes at a 7-for-16 mark. He has a lot of work to do but his teammates know he has talent.

Zach Ertz, a quarterback’s best friend at tight end, thinks an abundance of talent under center is never a negative, and he sees a lot of potential in all three Birds signal callers.

“Luckily for me there is a lot of talent at quarterback,” Ertz said. “Mark [Sanchez] has a lot of playoff experience, Nick [Foles], his stats speak for themselves and Matt [Barkley] was very good in college. I think my ability to get open and their ability to be successful throwing the ball has been easy for me and them.”