Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
7 takeaways from Philadelphia Eagles season coming out of the bye week
The Eagles received some much-needed rest with the Week 14 bye, but with Monday quickly approaching, all focus will be on the four-game gauntlet for a playoff spot.
Whether it was Jalen Hurts’ development, DeVonta Smith’s smoothness, or Jordan Mailata’s toughness, the first 3 quarters of the season provided quite a few different developments.
Before moving forward, it’s required that we take a brief look back at the first 14 weeks of the 2021 season, with 7 takeaways coming out of the bye week.
Studs and duds from Philadelphia Eagles 33-18 win over the New York Jets in Week 13
After Gardner Minshew and Zach Wilson alternated touchdowns in the first quarter, the Eagles settled down on defense and exploded on offense, as Philadelphia held Wilson and the Jets’ offense scoreless in the second half on their way to a 33-18 victory.
The Eagles moved to 6-7 on the season and took another step closer towards becoming playoff relevant.
Here are the studs and duds from Week 13.
Philadelphia Eagles snap count vs. New York Jets: Breakdown, observations from Week 13
The Eagles moved their record to 6-7 on the season, as the team dominated the Jets, 33-18, to enter their Week 14 bye week with plenty of momentum.
Philadelphia’s snap count has been released and there are several new names on the list.
NFL trade deadline: 10 veterans the Philadelphia Eagles could consider moving for more assets
The 2-5 Eagles are likely another loss from becoming sellers at the trade deadline and even amid the uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff, there’s talent on the roster.
Philadelphia has tons of draft capital and the next best thing would be to acquire even more assets going forward.
Here are 10 Eagles’ veterans that Howie Roseman could consider moving on from.
Eagles vs. Chiefs Thursday injury report: Andre Dillard to start in place of injured Jordan Mailata
Thursday injury report pic.twitter.com/Y2QFW5oaQh
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 30, 2021
The Eagles released their Thursday injury report in advance of Sunday’s matchup against the Chiefs, and Jordan Mailata was the only player to miss practice.
49ers vs. Eagles inactives: Landon Dickerson to make his NFL debut
#SFvsPHI inactives pic.twitter.com/3wNvSs16Xl
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 19, 2021
The Eagles released their inactive list for Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers and Landon Dickerson will make his NFL debut after a full week of practice.
CB Mac McCain, S Rodney McLeod, QB Gardner Minshew, T/G Brett Toth, and DT Marlon Tuipulotu are inactive, while Marcus Epps will start after clearing the concussion protocol.
#49ers DL Javon Kinlaw (knee), Arik Armstead (adductor) and RB Trey Sermon are active.
Inactives:
CB Moseley (knee)
G Banks
DL Kerr
CB Thomas— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) September 19, 2021
Javon Kinlaw (knee), Arik Armstead (adductor), and RB Trey Sermon are active for San Francisco.
[listicle id=653882]
[lawrence-related id=654003,653998,653983,653868,653860,653866]
Eagles vs. Falcons: Marcus Epps to start at safety in place of Rodney McLeod
Marcus Epps will start in place of Rodney McLeod. #Eagles
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) September 12, 2021
We highlighted Marcus Epps as a player to watch earlier this summer and with Rodney McLeod out for Week 1, the talented safety will start the season opener at Atlanta.
Epps is somewhat of an enigma, as he’s been unable to fully lock down a starting role in the NFL, but he was also the 13th best safety in the NFL last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Epps appeared in 14 games last season, starting five, while only logging 363 snaps in limited action.
The results were 47 tackles, two interceptions, and four pass breakups.
[vertical-gallery id=653328]
[listicle id=653179]
[lawrence-related id=653173,653351,653321,653303,653298,653297]
Eagles vs. Falcons: 10 players to watch in Week 1
The Eagles and Falcons are set for kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in a little over an hour.
With Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith set to make their first pro start as a duo, here are 10 players to watch in Week 1.
Eagles training camp: 7 reasons for optimism after joint practices with the Patriots
The Eagles just wrapped up their second joint practice session with the Patriots and will now have a walkthrough on Wednesday, before Thursday’s preseason matchup.
Having Bill Belichick and his disciplined roster here at the NovaCare Complex was the ultimate litmus test and Philadelphia’s retooled roster has plenty of reason to be optimistic going forward.
We’ve provided seven reasons for optimism after the joint sessions and heading towards the regular-season opener.
Eagles safety Marcus Epps makes ESPN ranking of the NFL’s top 25 young prospects who could level up in 2021
Amid all the big names in the Eagles secondary, Marcus Epps is quietly going about his business of trying to secure a spot on the 53 man roster.
Epps is somewhat of an enigma, as he’s been unable to fully lock down a starting role in the NFL, but he was also the 13th best safety in the NFL last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Epps appeared in 14 games last season, starting five, while only logging 363 snaps in limited action.
ESPN and Football Outsiders recently looked at the top-25 young prospects around the NFL who are on the brink of taking that next step.
Epps made the list at No. 22 overall.
22. Marcus Epps, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Age: 25 | Drafted: 2019, pick 191 | 474 defensive snaps
There are two kinds of prospects that tend to hit the end of this list. There are the ones who have the pedigree but haven’t done much yet, and there are the ones without the pedigree who have been showing out whenever they get on the field. Epps is in the latter camp. Yet another Wyoming product, Epps got a priority free-agent grade from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. He was Mel Kiper’s 50th-ranked … safety. Epps ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, showing off a nice 6.7-second three-cone drill time as well. He picked off nine balls in four seasons at Wyoming, adding 22 passes defensed and five forced fumbles. But at 6-foot-even and just 191 pounds, size was a major factor in forcing him out of the NFL’s upper rounds.Drafted by the Vikings, Epps was claimed by the Eagles on waivers and used at free safety in December of 2019. Rodney McLeod was ahead of Epps on the depth chart last year, but after a torn ACL in December, Epps grabbed a major share of the snaps yet again by getting at least 56 percent of the snaps in each of Philadelphia’s last four games. Epps picked off two passes and defensed four more. And while we wouldn’t expect this to last at his size, Epps had the best run stop rate of any Eagles secondary player last year, at 64%.
The Eagles had themselves a Vikings import offseason on defense. They brought in former Vikings defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon as defensive coordinator, and they added Anthony Harris to the safety equation on a one-year deal. Epps will be battling a 31-year-old McLeod and 2020 fourth-rounder K’Von Wallace for playing time, but he outplayed Wallace last year and has shown the ability to be a versatile middle-of-the-field defender. Don’t sleep on his chances of yet again bubbling up to the surface in 2021.
Last season Epps had 47 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups.
Likely having to survive the fray of constantly rotating safeties, Epps will likely battle special team’s ace Andrew Adams for the fourth safety spot behind McLeod, Anthony Harris, and K’Von Wallace.
[vertical-gallery id=651656]
[lawrence-related id=651662,651673,651683,651677,651676,651633]
