Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Eagles vs. Jets: 7 takeaways from the first half of action
The Eagles didn’t let a one-hour weather delay slow the momentum from two successful joint practices with the Jets this week in North Jersey.
Behind Joe Flacco’s big arm and strong running from Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia jumped out to a 21-10 lead at MetLife Stadium.
Here are seven takeaways from a first half that saw J.J. Arcega-Whiteside play his way onto the roster.
Watch: Eagles’ WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside with leaping catch over Jets DB Isaiah Dunn for 42-yard TD
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside's 42-yard TD is his longest reception in an Eagles uniform, preseason or regular season. His 57 receiving yards are his most since he went 8 catches and 104 yards in third preseason game vs. BAL in 2019.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 28, 2021
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside was clearly on the roster bubble and a player to watch during Friday night’s preseason finale against the Jets.
What a way to close out the half!#PHIvsNYJ | #FlyEaglesFly
📺: NBC10 pic.twitter.com/HQPF1iaJzA
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 28, 2021
The former second-round pick has two catches for 57-yards and a touchdown reception over two Jets defenders. With Travis Fulgham essentially benched, Arcega-Whiteside may have secured his roster spot.
[vertical-gallery id=652627]
[lawrence-related id=652671,652651,652647,652515,652538]
Eagles vs. Jets: 15 players to watch in the preseason finale
As the Eagles wrap up their first preseason under head coach Nick Sirianni, the team will finish off with a road matchup against the New York Jets.
With Philadelphia placing more emphasis on the two days of joint practices, the expectation is that most of the starters will be rested, while reserves and bubble players will compete for spots with the organization.
We’ve highlighted 15 players to watch during Friday night’s important matchup.
Eagles roster bubble: 15 players who need a strong performance against the Jets
The Eagles are in Florence, New Jersey this week for two joint practice sessions and a Friday night preseason matchup with the Jets.
With Philadelphia taking a similar approach to last week and placing the onus on performing well during those practices, we’re listed 15 players who need a strong week altogether.
10 Eagles to watch during joint practices with the Patriots
The Eagles are set for a physical and spirited two days of joint training camp practices with the New England Patriots at the NovaCare Complex.
With Philadelphia needing to reduce the roster down to 85 and 80 players over the next week, here are 10 players to watch over the next two days.
Can Nick Sirianni unlock Eagles’ WR Jalen Reagor by playing him more in the slot?
👀 This is where he should be playing. I’m envisioning Anquan Bolden type of player. Put Watkins on the outside opposite Smith with Reagor in the Slot. https://t.co/F0Iln76UKL
— @Ike58Reese (@Ike58Reese) August 10, 2021
The Eagles have several worthy candidates to play out of the slot, but Jalen Reagor is the one guy that could break out from seeing more time in space.
After a recent training camp practice, Reagor hinted at getting back to his “roots” of making big plays and confirming that he’ll see time as a slot wide river. A fast-twitch player with breakaway speed, Reagor can be best served in space, with the opportunity to accumulate yards after the catch.
It wouldn’t be a total move from the X or Z position, but it could allow the Eagles to at times, have a mismatch inside against slower slot or nickel cornerbacks.
Last season Greg Ward led Philadelphia receivers in receptions and he’s also among the league leaders in shortest routes run over the past two seasons. The Eagles need to be more explosive overall and getting Reagor matched up in space could do wonders for the former TCU star in year two.
Philadelphia actually passed on Justin Jefferson in the 2020 NFL Draft because the feeling was that Reagor could provide more value to the offense, as an outside receiver.
[vertical-gallery id=651906]
[lawrence-related id=651984,651994,651981,651985,651939]
Philadelphia Eagles have the youngest WR unit in the NFL
The Philadelphia Eagles have the youngest wide receiving group in the league, based on average age and that could translate to big-time potential over the next few years.
Featuring Jhamon Ausbon (21), DeVonta Smith (22), Jalen Reagor (22), Quez Watkins (23), JJ Arcega-Whiteside (24), Travis Fulgham (25 ), John Hightower (25), Greg Ward (25), and Michael Walker (24) — this current receiving corps is full of “young blood”.
Under new head coach Nick Sirianni, this year’s Eagles wide receiving corps could see a rise in production as a whole compared to recent years based on the rookie head coach’s past history.
During his San Diego Chargers days, Sirianni helped Tyrell Williams have one of his best seasons, recording 69 receptions for 1059 yards to go along with seven TD’s, and Dontrelle Inman — 58 catches for 810 yards to pair with 25 first downs also thrived.
Keenan Allen, one of the league’s best receivers, had his best season under Sirianni during 2017 (the year after he tore his ACL).
It all points to a recipe of greatness for what can become the leagues, not just youngest, but one of the more elite units in the NFL. Sirianni has placed emphasis on playmaking coming from this year’s offensive unit, and that means this wide receiving group will make an instant impact.
[vertical-gallery id=649097]
[lawrence-related id=650460,650441,650437,650426,650393]
Howie Roseman explains the decision to pass on DK Metcalf, Justin Jefferson in NFL Draft
Howie Roseman is a master at pulling off a big free-agent acquisition or maneuvering the salary cap to benefit the Eagles needs.
His ability to evaluate talent has been called into question and on Monday, the Eagles GM addressed that perceived shortcoming.
During his 2020 exit interview with the media, Roseman addressed the elephant in the room and spoke vaguely on what went into selecting Arcega-Whiteside and Reagor over more acclaimed options.
“We went into the draft trying to find the right guys for our team and in terms of what we thought we needed to have a better offense.”
Roseman provided more insight into Vikings star rookie, Justin Jefferson, without naming names.
“I’d say, one, obviously the guy you are talking (Note: Roseman seemed to mean Jefferson) about had a phenomenal year. It is not like our heads are in the sand and we don’t see that and we didn’t spend a lot of time on that guy. Obviously, I think when you talk to other general managers in this league, if everyone knew what those guys were going to do, they wouldn’t even have been close to the pick we were at, and there were other receivers taken.”
“We went into the draft trying to find the right guys for our team in terms of what we thought we needed to have a better offense. That is with a lot of discussion with our scouts, with our coaches. There was definitely a lot of opinions on this draft class and this receiver class for sure. I would also say Jalen is a very young player. He just turned 22. He missed a bunch of games with injuries. He didn’t really have durability issues in college. And sometimes those things over a period of time, they play out. I think about it this morning, I was thinking about the 2010 draft, and how it went with Brandon Graham and the guys that maybe started their careers fresh.”
Reagor ended his rookie season with 31-catches for 396 yards receiving and just one touchdown while missing five games with a thumb injury.
Jefferson set the NFL record for receiving yards by a rookie after logging 88 catches for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns.
Roseman admitted that medical grades and other scenarios played a role in passing on Metcalf, but it can’t explain passing on Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin as well.
Roseman finished by talking about the Eagles continuing to have big expectations for both Reagor and Arcega-Whiteside.
[listicle id=645045]
[lawrence-related id=645496,645491,645473,645424]
The Eagles released their list of inactive players for today’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is a healthy scratch.
https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=64DuDrTaeu-1074567-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on
#PHIvsAZ Inactives pic.twitter.com/HZY2kBPZ7T
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 20, 2020
The Eagles released their list of inactive players for today’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is a healthy scratch.
Arcega-Whiteside was active against the Saints but did not play and Sunday will mark the sixth game in a row that he will not play in.
Hightower started four games this season but is a healthy scratch for the second week in a row.
[listicle id=644721]
[lawrence-related id=644782,644785,644777,644768]
DK Metcalf says he has to make the Eagles pay for not drafting him
The Philadelphia Eagles fell to the Seattle Seahawks, 23-17, behind the arm of Russell Wilson and explosive receiving prowess of second-year pro, DK Metcalf.
Metcalf caught 10 of the 13 passes targeted to him for 177 yards, most of which came on a 52-yard pass in the second quarter over Darius Slay.
Afterward, Metcalf rubbed in the Eagles face, telling reporters that “Philadelphia could have been home” had the Eagles not bypassed him twice in the draft.
For that slight, the Eagles had to pay.
DK Metcalf said playing in Philadelphia could have been home, but the Eagles opted not to draft him.
"I've got to make them pay."
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) December 1, 2020
Metcalf was selected by Seattle with the 64th pick of the 2019 NFL draft, the final pick of the second round. With the Eagles struggling at the wide receiver position, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is the player mentioned most in comparison after Philadelphia selected the former Stanford star at No. 57 overall.
