Alshon Jeffery may have been one of the most important offseason additions this Franchise has ever made. His impact on the team in 2017 was second to none. Sure, Jeffery isn’t your typical WR1 but don’t sleep on his ability. Jeffery and Wentz have yet to show their true potential together and Thursday night may be the perfect time to do so.
“It just gives our offense a lift from the standpoint [that] he’s a veteran player, a guy that Carson [QB Carson Wentz] knows, understands, and he’s a good player.”
– Doug Pederson to reporters earlier this week.
The Eagles have lost the last 2 games by small margins in large part due to dropped passes. Agholor had the game in his hands in Atlanta when he muffed a game-winner. JJ Arcega-Whiteside dropped a deep pass from Wentz that would’ve solidified a victory for the Eagles one week later. The team is surely three dropped passes away from being 3-0.
In the last two games, the Eagles have been without their top two wideouts. DeSean Jackson has been sidelined with abdominal strain while Alshon Jeffery has been sidelined with a calf strain but now Jeffery is on his way back and just in time.
Doug Pederson also went on to elaborate more on Jefferys status by stating, “He took part in everything this week. He feels good, so I expect him to go,” Pederson said. “It gives our offense a lift from the standpoint of a veteran player, a guy that Carson (Wentz) knows, understands. He’s a good player.”
Alshon Jeffery finished week 1 with 5 receptions for 49 yards and 2 touchdowns with one of them being a rushing touchdown.
A lot of people will look back at 2018 and see that Jeffery appeared in only 13 games as he was still recovering from surgery. He somehow still finished with 65 receptions, 843 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns. Here’s a fun stat to add, if Alshon had played the whole season while averaging the same 64.8 yards per game, he would’ve finished the season with 1,037 receiving yards.
Jeffery’s potential impact shouldn’t go unnoticed. He’s been the type of receiver that demands the others to raise their level of play and joins a sputtering offense for a matchup against a pass defense allowing just 197 passing yards per game.
His presence should also help Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert with their production as well. The Eagles are in need of elite play from their playmakers right now, as is Carson Wentz.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
