Yesterday reports came out of the NovaCare Complex that the team expects to be without both Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson this Sunday against the Detroit Lions, and possibly next Thursday against the Green Bay Packers. Doug Pederson already stated that the injuries to Jeffery, Jackson and Dallas Goedert early on Sunday Night forced him to cross out a majority of the plays he had in his gameplan.
The team has seemingly replaced Dallas Goedert with Alex Ellis from the practice squad, and they aren't expected to add another tight end off the street or in a trade. The wide receiver position is a whole different ballpark though. The Eagles have a few different ways they can improvise while they are missing two of their biggest receiving threats.
Promote From Within
JJ Arcega-Whiteside is expected to work with the #1's this week in practice to try and build some chemistry with Carson Wentz and the rest of the offensive personnel. He will try to fill the redzone threat role while Jeffery is out.
Mack Hollins will likely get the first chance of filling Jackson's role as the deep-threat of the offense to try and open up the field for the rest of the receiving group.
The Eagles currently have two receivers on their practice squad: Greg Ward and Marcus Green. This could finally be Ward's chance to be on the Eagles' 53-man roster, as he spent both the 2017 and 2018 seasons on the team's practice squad. Ward showed flashes in the preseason and also in the now-defunct Allegiance of American Football. Green was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 6th-round of this year's draft, but wasn't able to make their 53-man roster. He appeared in 48 games at Louisiana-Monroe, finishing his collegiate career tied for 3rd in school history in receiving touchdowns with 23, 3rd in career receptions with 202, and 2nd in career receiving yards with 2,698.
Find Familiar Outside Help
When the Eagles dealt with injuries to their wide receivers last season, the team signed old friend Jordan Matthews to try and whether the storm. Matthews previously had great chemistry in 2016 with Carson Wentz and he ended up producing fairly well in the times his number was called on offense. He just got done a workout with the New Orleans Saints, but if he doesn't end up signing with them there is a decent chance the team brings him back to Philly for a 3rd time and he suits up to play Sunday. He already knows the playbook and has the chemistry with the quarterback, so why not?
Another familiar receiver on the street right now is Mike Wallace. Wallace was signed in the 2018 offseason as the team was looking for a deep threat replacement since they recently released Torrey Smith. Wallace only played two games with the Eagles before he suffered a fractured fibula which cost him the rest of the 2018 campaign. With Jackson gone for at least two games (and possibly going to be dealing with a nagging injury the rest of the season), it might be worth trying to find a long-term deep-threat option as opposed to just Mack Hollins. Wallace could be given another shot to try and show he could be a playmaker in this league still. Like Matthews, he already knows the playbook from being with the team through all of last season.
Bring in Some Veterans For Workouts
Obviously with the season in full swing, there isn't really too much talent out on the street waiting to be signed and ready to make an immediate impact. However there are still a handful of guys that could be worth working out and seeing if they still have anything left in the tank. Besides Matthews and Wallace, some free agents include:
•Dez Bryant
•Pierre Garcon
•Kelvin Benjamin
•Deonte Thompson
•Bruce Ellington (already worked out with the team in August)
So far there hasn't been any reports of workouts this week at the NovaCare Complex, but we'll have to wait and see what approach Howie Roseman will take later this week with his 53-man roster.
