Opportunities

Tim Jernigan is out for at least a month. DeSean Jackson is out for a couple of weeks. We’ll have to see how things go with Alshon Jeffery and Dallas Goedert. Losing key guys like this is a problem.

It is also an opportunity.

Mack Hollins and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside are here for a reason. Hollins is coming off the best game of his young career. He caught 5 passes for 50 yards. That’s hardly anything to alert Canton about, but Hollins stepped up and made some key plays. JJAW has one catch through two weeks. He must pick his game up and contribute. He showed in the preseason that he can play at this level. Now he’s got to do it in a real game and with serious pressure on him.

The Eagles traded for Hassan Ridgeway on draft weekend because they liked him. Now he will get a chance to play a good amount of snaps. He needs to show what he can do.

Alex Ellis was just added to the roster on Tuesday. He has a chance to see snaps on STs and offense. This is a huge opportunity for him.

These players weren’t key figures a couple of weeks ago, but this is life in the NFL. Starters go down and that means opportunities for young guys. They can help the Eagles and their careers.

Not all of the young guys will pan out as hoped. That’s just reality.

But some will. Corey Clement got on the field in 2017 due to injuries and became a key role player. Big V took over at LT. A variety of players helped to fill in for Ronald Darby when he got hurt in the 2017 season opener. Beau Allen started three games at DT when Fletcher Cox was hurt.

We are just two weeks into the season. We have to see how the role players will handle this chance. Two games doesn’t give us enough information. There are people ripping on Miles Sanders for his slow start. Ugh. Be patient. Give the guy a chance to show what he can do.

I think one of the strengths of this coaching staff is how they develop young guys and role players. Some teams fall apart when starters get hurt. The Eagles under Doug Pederson have been able to stay competitive and win their share of games. The personnel department finds the right guys. The coaching staff develops the talent and does a good job of putting players in position to succeed.

The Eagles still have plenty of firepower. They should win this Sunday.

Just as important, the Eagles should continue to improve. The team has looked fantastic for stretches, but completely inept for other parts of games. I think the Eagles will smooth things out as the season moves along. Some key players missed the summer and still haven’t played their best football yet.

Too often fans and the media make strong judgments based on a couple of weeks of football. There is a ton of time left and things will change, good and bad. The Colts started slow last year, but got red hot late in the season. Washington, amazingly, was 5-2 last year before falling apart. How many people remember that?

Pederson and his staff will get the most out of these players.

Howie and his staff will keep looking to see if there are players to be brought in. Don’t think so much about big names like Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jalen Ramsey. Focus on solid players who will have a reasonable price tag.

I still think the Eagles are a really good team and will have a terrific season.

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