We’re at the midpoint of the NFL season and the Eagles are somehow leading the NFC East with a 3-4-1 record. They’re getting some key players back this week ahead of a clash with the Giants, so what better time to look at every player on the roster?
Quarterback
Carson Wentz
He has to be better. Unfortunately, it’s that simple. Wentz has absolutely been pinned down by a ridiculous amount of offensive injuries, but his play as a quarterback, including dreadful decision-making and a lack of touch on his passes stemming from regressed mechanics, has been awful. The Eagles go as Carson Wentz goes and the coaching staff need to change something up if they are to ensure they ride into the playoffs smoothly.
Jalen Hurts
His use has been puzzling at best. Hurts was drafted in the second round for a reason. Marty Mornhinweg, who used plenty 2QB sets in Baltimore, was brought in for a reason. Hurts only seems to be put in red-zone plays where he keeps the ball, or read-option looks. The Eagles have to be more creative here knowing that Hurts is far more than a glorified running back.
Running back
Miles Sanders
The Eagles need Miles Sanders back. Boston Scott has done well, but Sanders has been just as explosive as everyone hoped he would be, following up his impressive rookie campaign. With back-to-back games where he had 74-yard runs, the breakaway ability is clear. He handled over 55% of the Eagles’ carries prior to getting injured and that should remain the same upon his return.
Boston Scott
It was a slow start, but we can all agree that Scott now owns the New York Giants. Hopefully we’ll see another example of that this Sunday, with his iconic walkoff TD reception still fresh in everyone’s memory. Scott remains one of the ultimate bargain-bucket finds on this team.
Corey Clement
I honestly expected to see more from Clement this year, who has been bitterly underwhelming. It’s clear he isn’t the same running back he was back in 2017 and that’s okay, but it’s hard to imagine a long-term future in this backfield.
Jason Huntley
He exists…I think?
Offensive line
Lane Johnson
I just really hope the injury is dealt with in a way that puts his long-term health first. Johnson has had a nagging ankle injury for what feels like forever and one that did require offseason surgery after playing hurt. Johnson is an elite tackle and can’t afford to keep playing on 70-80%. We’ve seen so many bad injury stories in the past, the Eagles cannot let Johnson be the next.
Jason Peters
This note would turn in to a 3-page rant if I wasn’t careful. If Peters can rekindle that HoF fire one more time and hold down the blindside for the next eight games, I’ll be more than happy to turn that rant into a 3-page thank you speech. If.
Jordan Mailata
I still don’t really understand the decision behind putting Mailata back in a reserve role. He played well at left tackle, held his own at right, and showed he could clearly handle starting NFL talent. I’m sure this won’t be the last we’ve seen of Mailata, but he’s easily been one of the most impressive players this season and one of the very few encouraging stories.
Jack Driscoll
The rookie seemed to look serviceable in the limited reps he did see before picking up an injury, but it’s fair to already wonder how high his ceiling is with Mailata now assumedly ahead of him on the depth chart.
Brett Toth
He’s only played in one snap so far but it’s a fun story to watch unfold!
Jason Kelce
The glue keeping the offensive line together, Kelce has been nothing short of excellent this season, but that’s what’s expected at this point after such an incredible career. Kelce may not get the praise he truly deserves, but he’s been one of the team’s best players this year.
Sua Opeta
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll.
Isaac Seumalo
Of the players returning this week, Seumalo may well be the most impactful. The starting left guard had a bumpy start in week 1, but should be able to settle in nicely against a far less dangerous Giants pass-rush, doing wonders for both Wentz and his running backs.
Matt Pryor
It’s been a bit of a disappointing season for the former TCU product. The opportunity was sky-high at RG after Brandon Brooks suffered another heartbreaking Achilles injury, but he’s failed to really put his stamp on the position, with injuries impacting him too along with some sporadic play. When he’s on, he’s a consistent backup…it’s just finding a way to keep the switch pressed in.
Nate Herbig
Herbig has played well overall when you consider the bigger picture. He hasn’t been overly consistent and there’s a lot of growing room, but it’s really hard to fault him at this point having been thrown into the deep end.
Jamon Brown
Fire him out of a cannon. In all seriousness, he remains the only offensive lineman I have ever seen sack his own quarterback, providing a dopamine hit I didn’t know I needed.
Tight End
Zach Ertz
This fairytale looks like it’s headed for a heartbreaking ending. Ertz, who has been one of the franchise’s biggest draft hits in the last 15 years, voiced his desire to stay in Philadelphia, contract talks were halted, his play dropped off a cliff, and he was shopped at the deadline before heading on IR. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Dallas Goedert
His season started off well before picking up an injury. With Ertz now sidelined, Goedert has a real opportunity to steal the TE1 baton. If he can continue to perform at the level he has been, the ceiling is as high as can be and the Eagles will lean in his direction when it comes to paying one of the two.
On another note, big PSN fan. We love to see it.
Richard Rodgers
Another of this season’s most pleasant surprises, Rodgers has put up a better stat-line than Zach Ertz. Third time lucky, right? Through 8 games, he has 184 yards to his name and has found some of that receiving form we assumed he had left behind him in GB. It’s been really fun to watch Rodgers find a role in this offense. He should be TE2 behind Goedert for the remainder of the season.
Jason Croom
He only catches touchdowns. Greatest of all time.
Hakeem Butler
He only fails to fight for touchdowns. Greatest ‘yeah but, why?’ of all time.
Wide receiver
Travis Fulgham
He leads the NFL in receiving since his Eagles debut in week 4. I don’t know what more I can say. The brightest silver lining the Eagles have ever seen, Fulgham’s emergence from a late-signing to being a certified WR1, breaking free of the ‘fluke’ label and becoming a top target for Carson Wentz has been nothing short of magical. He’s everything the team hoped JJAW would be…as heartbreaking as that is to say.
Jalen Reagor
The first-round pick suffered a thumb injury in week 2 that kept him sidelined until the Dallas game. He’s shown some extremely promising flashes (with huge plays missed by Carson Wentz) and hopefully the chemistry with his QB will continue to ignite in the second half of the season.
J.J Arcega-Whiteside
His biggest moment of the season so far has been hustling on a 74-yard Miles Sanders run, finishing his block and being in a position to pick up the fumble for a TD. It’s not great, but the heart is certainly there. Could he benefit from being taken out of the spotlight? Fulgham has already done that for him and now the Eagles have 3 of the same WR prototype on their roster. JJAW might not see much of the field at all now that Alshon is back.
Alshon Jeffery
Talk of the Devil, ‘Alshonymous’ looks set to play his first NFL snap in well over a year. He looks about 30 pounds lighter which is a little concerning, but the Eagles seem to think he looks more dangerous than ever. So long as he doesn’t take away from Fulgham’s snaps, I’m sure everything will remain civil. If that isn’t the case, expect chaos.
DeSean Jackson
Some things just aren’t meant to be, no matter how much you wish they were.
Greg Ward Jr
Ward isn’t flashy, but he gets the job done. He’s proving that he really does have a long-term future as a slot receiver at the NFL level and that’s all the Eagles needed to see. His production has been as consistent as ever.
John Hightower
My draft crush. Hightower started off slow. Like, really slow. As in, couldn’t catch an easy pass to save his life slow. But after registering a 50+ yard snag in back-to-back games, he began to settle nicely. At the end of the day, he was a fifth-round pick. He’s seeing significant playing time despite there being no training camp or preseason. He’ll likely take a back seat with Reagor back and that may aid his development massively.
Quez Watkins
I think he still exists? Not entirely sure. It’d be great to see him sprinkled into some plays after missing a huge chunk of time with injury, but he’ll be limited to a slot role to begin with.
Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire
