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Greg Ward Jr. worked for three years on the Eagles practice squad to show the coaches and executives that he had the skills to play in the NFL.
During the Eagles late-season run in 2019, Ward was an integral part of the team’s success and looked to have finally found a place on an NFL roster.
A former University of Houston quarterback who changed his position to wide receiver, Ward was the Eagles’ most consistent and reliable receiver during the Birds four-game run to a division title, snagging 28 catches for 254 yards and one touchdown during that six-week stretch.
Greg Ward Jr beating Norman for a game winning td was probably the final straw pic.twitter.com/CfdWYUnkQE
— 🇵🇸 Jawad جواد FlyEaglesFly 🦅 🇵🇸 (@Wentz_Better) February 14, 2020
As Ward and the Eagles enter the 2020 season, the roster dynamics have changed, and what initially looked like a starting role this season dwindled back to another preseason battle for a roster spot.
The Eagles acquired the speedy Marquise Goodwin on draft night and then selected Jalen Reagor, John Hightower, and Quez Watkins to add more speed and athleticism to the roster.
What that means for Ward has yet to be seen because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Eagles were unable to gather for offseason workouts, OTA’s or minicamps.
A virtual offseason should allow Ward to enter training camp with an advantage at the position and Doug Pederson’s comments about Jalen Reagor were also a blessing for Ward as well.
When speaking with Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro recently, Pederson hinted at playing Reagor on the outside, behind DeSean Jackson initially.
“Right now, he’s going to come in and he’s going to learn one position and he is going to learn from DeSean Jackson and learn everything he can,” Head Coach Doug Pederson said. “Obviously, the playbook is extensive and we just have to see what he’s taken from the offseason to Training Camp, and then once we see his potential and his growth, then we can use him in multiple spots. But one of the things that all of our receivers really have the capability of doing is moving inside, whether they are an outside guy going inside or an inside guy going outside. We’ll keep him at one position to start and we’ll grow from there.”
With Alshon Jeffery likely to start the regular season on the PUP list, JJ Arcega-Whiteside will likely be the starter on the outside opposite Jackson, unless Marquise Goodwin can snag the job away from the second-year wideout.
Ward has earned the right to enter training camp as the starter, but it’ll be interesting to see if the Eagles put any stock into his late-season performance, or if they’re prepared to start the youth movement earlier than expected.
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