The Bye week blues are well and truly over now, Eagles fans. The team just announced that defensive tackle, Timmy Jernigan, will be returning to practice.
#Eagles DT Tim Jernigan has been cleared to return to practice.
Full Details: https://t.co/wfzKjdjy80#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/3tPAjL9jcV
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 5, 2018
Originally a second-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, Jernigan was acquired by the Eagles in a trade prior to the 2017 Draft in exchange for a third round pick. The idea? To replace Bennie Logan with a run-stopper with an incredibly high ceiling who can play his way to a new deal.
Jernigan did just that after the Eagles signed the former Florida State run-stopper to a long-term deal back in November last year. He ended his first year in Philly with 29 tackles but burst out of the gate early. Through nine games, he had 10 QB hurries, 5 QB hits and 1.5 sacks. An ankle injury looked to slow his progress, but it didn’t stop him from being one of the team’s biggest defensive standouts.
A herniated disc would interfere with what promised to be his biggest season yet however, sidelining him for the first eight games of the season. The Eagles were forced to bring in extra help in the way of Haloti Ngata, but durability has once again stung the veteran defensive tackle. Aside from him, it’s been a band of undrafted free agents trying to fill the void, but the production has been notably down for the defensive line in terms of pass-rushing. There are many factors going into this, like teams trying to negate it by getting the ball out quicker, but the absence of Jernigan hurts…with Cox having to deal with double team dilemmas all over again.
Run defense has been a non-factor for the Eagles this year, with four quarterbacks leading their team in rushing against a truly stout brick wall. Jernigan’s prowess has always been stopping the run and that area of the game will only improve with his return.
The Eagles will have three weeks to decide whether or not Jernigan will be elevated to the 53-man roster, but the bye week is bound to help. If Jernigan returns by next weekend, a clash with the Saints, it may be the biggest boost this team has been given since the return of Carson Wentz.
It’s clear the Birds still want Jernigan around after restructuring his deal to give them more optionality. But after signing him to that huge $48M extension, none of the $26M guaranteed money will have that label looming over it. This is not only HUGE for the Eagles in terms of future cap space and giving them optionality, but it also gives them windows. The final 3 years in his deal are now option years, which means it’s time to ‘prove it’ once more.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
