With Jason Kelce potentially out for a few weeks, Cam Jurgens needs to make the most of his preseason snaps.
The Eagles are a little over 48 hours from opening their preseason campaign against the New York Jets and will be going into the three-game slate without their franchise center. It’s not like Jason Kelce would’ve played much (if at all) anyway, but his temporary absence from the offense means that the team will likely be relying on rookie center, Cam Jurgens, to start a game or two. This makes the upcoming preseason vital to his development to ensure he’s game ready.
The Eagles select Cam Jurgens at pick 51
Jurgens was drafted with the 51st overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft and was hand-picked by Kelce to be the heir to his throne. One glance at his tape is all it takes to understand why he was the chosen one. The Nebraska product is over 300 lbs and moves like a young Jason Kelce.
This makes sense given he was once a prolific Tight End recruit. He can struggle with hand usage sometimes and relies on his athleticism to keep him engaged which can often lead to pushing the opposing lineman into an open freeway. However, his mobility is incredible and he’s super effective in getting to the second level and using his athleticism to drive linebackers downfield. There’s no fear in his play, which can sometimes be a trait that haunts lighter linemen. Jurgens plays angrily and has the speed to give him an edge.
Can Jeff Stoutland do it again?
When you remember that Jeff Stoutland turns everything he touches into Gold, it’s not hard to foresee a sharp growth spike in Jurgens’ skillset. When asked about his growth this summer, Eagles offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen, spoke glowingly of his game.
Honestly, the way he moves. We saw in college the screen game, but when he works double teams with the guards inside, just the way he gets those double teams off and comes off to the next level is really impressive. So, really excited about Cam.
What most people will associate with Jurgens up to this point however is being absolutely mauled by Jordan Davis at a public practice. In fairness, I think anyone would’ve been ripped to shreds by that wildebeest, but if there is anyone who needs to kick on over the next few weeks, it’s Cam Jurgens.
Originally drafted to be a developmental prospect who could learn under Jason Kelce for a year or two, Jurgens is now going to have to hold his own as a starter. Luckily for him, Jeff Stoutland has prepared guys such as Jordan Mailata, Jack Driscoll, Nate Herbig, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, and even Landon Dickerson for starting roles in a moments notice.
If there’s one player to watch over the next three weeks, it’s Cam Jurgens. It will be very interesting to see how he develops through two joint practices and a trio of games before the season opener against Detroit. The more experience he has before taking the baton from Kelce, the better.
Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire
