‘Unbelievable’: Eagles rookie DeVonta Smith draws comparison to Hall-of-Fame wide receiver

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sep. 12, 2021, in Atlanta. The Philadelphia Eagles won 32-6.
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The sky’s the limit.

That’s what Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson had to say Friday about rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Johnson gushed over Smith during an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”

“When I look at him, I’m thinking Marvin Harrison. He’s unbelievable. The separation he gets, the sure hands. I think he’s a phenomenal talent.”

Harrison, a Philadelphia native, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. He played 13 NFL seasons, all with the Indianapolis Colts. Harrison ranks fifth all-time with 1,102 receptions, fifth all-time with 128 receiving touchdowns and ninth all-time with 14,580 receiving yards.

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The Eagles used the No. 10 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft on Smith, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. In his NFL regular-season debut Sunday, Smith caught a touchdown on his first reception and finished with six catches for 71 yards, helping the Eagles beat the Atlanta Falcons, 32-6.

Smith will make his Lincoln Financial Field debut in two days when the Eagles host the San Francisco 49ers in their home opener. Here’s what you need to know about the game from NFL PR:

49ers

• QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO passed for 314 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 124.2 rating in Week 1, his 6th-career 300+ yard game. Has 100+ rating in 6 of his past 8 road starts. Rookie QB TREY LANCE had 1st career TD pass in Week 1 & became 3rd rookie QB (MATT RYAN & TIM TEBOW) to throw TD pass on 1st career attempt since 2000.

• RB ELIJAH MITCHELL (rookie) rushed for 104 yards & TD last week & became 1st rookie in franchise history with 100+ rush yards in NFL debut. RB JAMYCAL HASTY had 2nd-career rush TD in Week 1. •

TE GEORGE KITTLE had 4 receptions for 78 yards last week. Had career-high 15 receptions for 183 yards & TD catch in last meeting. Has 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 on road. WR DEEBO SAMUEL had 9 receptions for career-high 189 yards, incl. career-long 79-yard rec. TD, last week. Has 100+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 on road. Aims for his 6th in row on road with 5+ receptions & 70+ scrimmage yards. WR TRENT SHERFIELD had 2nd-career TD catch in Week 1. WR BRANDON AIYUK had 38-yard rush TD in last meeting.

• DL NICK BOSA had sack & 3 TFL in Week 1. DL DEE FORD had 38th-career sack last week. Had sack in only career game vs. Phi. (9/17/17 w/ KC). LB FRED WARNER had team-high 11 tackles last week & aims for his 4th in row with 10+ tackles. LB DRE GREENLAW had 2nd-career INT last week. LB AZIZ Al-SHAAIR had 2 TFL & 2 PD in Week 1.

Eagles

• QB JALEN HURTS completed 27 of 35 attempts (77.1 pct) for 264 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for a career-high 126.4 rating & had 62 rush yards in Week 1, his 2nd-career start with 3+ TD passes. Has 60+ rush yards in 4 of his 5 career starts.

• RB MILES SANDERS had 113 scrimmage yards (74 rush, 39 rec.) in Week 1, his 10th-career game with 100+ scrimmage yards. Had 76 scrimmage yards (46 rush, 30 rec.) in last meeting. Ranks 4th among RBs with 4.9 yards per rush since 2019 (min. 300 attempts). Rookie RB KENNETH GAINWELL had 1st-career rush TD in Week 1.

• WR DEVONTA SMITH (rookie) had 6 receptions for team-high 71 yards & 1st-career rec. TD last week. Was 1 of 3 1st-round rookie WRs (JA’MARR CHASE & JAYLEN WADDLE) with rec. TD in Week 1. WR JALAN REAGOR had career-high 6 catches for 49 yards & 2nd-career TD catch in Week 1. TE DALLAS GOEDERT had 1st rec. TD of season last week. TE ZACH ERTZ had rec. TD in last home meeting.

• DT FLETCHER COX had sack & PD in last home meeting. Aims for his 4th in row at home with sack & 8th in row at home with TFL. DE BRANDON GRAHAM had 7 sacks & 8 TFL in 8 home games last season. Has sack in 3 of his 4 career games vs. SF. DT JAVON HARGRAVE had 3rd-career 2-sack game in Week 1. LB ERIC WILSON led team with 9 tackles in Phi. debut last week. CB DARIUS SLAY had PD last week. Since 2014, leads NFL with 106 PD.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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