#Eagles WR DeVonta Smith ahead of the regular season finale vs. Cowboys: “I feel like I need to be out there. It’s a momentum thing.” pic.twitter.com/FJQwnluw35
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) January 5, 2022
The Eagles clinched a playoff berth over the weekend and with the Cowboys already claiming the NFC East title, Philadelphia will be a Wild Card team — landing the sixth or seventh seed depending on how Week 18 develops.
From a seeding and overall record standpoint, Saturday’s matchup should be a situation where starters and important veterans rest, but two former Alabama stars would prefer to focus on the continued work.
Both Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith made it clear that they’d prefer to play, with Philadelphia’s rookie wideout making the strongest claim to be active.
For Hurts’, it’s all about making those rent payments.
“I love football and I’m preparing,” Hurts said. “It’s business as usual.”
Smith wants to play in the season finale and he has a valid reason for not wanting to rest or being listed as inactive.
“I feel like I need to be out there,” rookie receiver DeVonta Smith said. “It’s a momentum thing.”
The 23-year-old Heisman Trophy winner is just 38 yards away from breaking DeSean Jackson’s Eagles record for receiving yards as a rookie.
On the season, Smith has 61 receptions for 875 yards with five touchdowns in 16 games this season, logging 13 receptions for 189 yards with one score during Philadelphia’s current four-game winning streak.
Nick Sirianni is likely to make his decision late Friday or Saturday morning.
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