One of the Philadelphia Eagles’ thinnest positional depth charts from last season is already looking pretty lean.
Over the last week, new acquisition Marquise Goodwin — who was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers on a draft-day trade — opted out of playing the 2020 season with the team citing coronavirus concerns involving his family.
Goodwin has a five-month-old daughter and his wife had three miscarriages — which is obviously grounds for high-risk family members, thus making his decision to sit out the season an understandable one.
Meanwhile, Alshon Jeffery was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which still stems from the foot injury he suffered during Week 14 last season.
That leaves the Eagles with veteran DeSean Jackson, who looks healthy following an injury-riddled 2019 campaign, and the inexperienced JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward.
A shorthanded group of wide receivers was something that hampered the Eagles down the stretch last season. In the final two weeks of the regular season and their Wild Card loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Doug Pederson’s men averaged just over 13 points per game.
Such a similar lineup to those times puts that much more pressure on 2020 first-round draft pick, Jalen Reagor, to provide a boost to the Eagles’ ranks.
Philadelphia obviously saw something special in the TCU product, taking him earlier than expected on draft night at No. 21 overall when many thought he would be a second-round draft pick.
But the intangibles of stardom are certainly there.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound receiver is a burner on the outside that can create separation with his speed, but he does his best work while being contested, making him a prime candidate to become a force on the outside — particularly in jump-ball situations.
Tactical route-running abilities further show off his agility, which will be vital in becoming a yards-after-catch machine as well.
Expecting him to make an immediate impact might be unfair, especially for a win-now Eagles squad, but given the team’s troubles at the position, he might not have much of a choice to be thrust into the limelight.
