There is something to be said for player snap count totals. They don’t mean anything after a win, but mean everything following a loss and always are the preferred check-in for conspiracy theorists.
Take the outrage over Quez Watkins’ 55 snaps, 48 for Jalen Reagor and only 44 for fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith in a 33-18 romp over the Jets Sunday.
It was the lowest percentage of snaps for Smith (62 percent) since entering the league. Surely, head coach Nick Sirianni was trying to slip one past the snap counters.
“We were running some good things out of 13 personnel,” Sirianni said via coachspeak Monday. “We were having some success in the run game and in the play-action game. And with who we wanted in there in 13 personnel and what we were asking them to do in 13 personnel, that’s where Reagor got a lot of those snaps. That’s just the way it went. I’m not going to apologize.”
Watkins caught three passes on three targets for 60 yards, working his way open fluidly and quickly for Gardnew Minshew. The quarterback completed a combined 14 throws to tight end Dallas Goedert, who had six receptions for 105 yards and two TDs and running backs Kenneth Gainwell (5-32) and Miles Sanders (3-22).
For critics, Reagor getting more snaps than Smith was just another opportunity for Reagor to be hated. He didn’t gain many fans Sunday making a block springing Gainwell on a touchdown run, because he also misjudged a kickoff and muffed a punt.
The Eagles started at their 6-yard line after Reagor’s gaffe on kickoff return, the ball hitting the 1 with enough backspin to stay in play. He motored 21 yards after muffing the punt. Reagor also had one target – and catch – for seven yards and took a pitch in a botched triple reverse. Smith had four targets and two receptions for 15 yards.
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On the injury front, Eagles center Jason Kelce is on track to extend his streak of consecutive games played to 119 in a couple of weeks, the team getting this week off for the bye. That is great news because Kelce was in pain leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. The previous week he suffered a knee injury.
“Obviously, everybody holds their breath when something like that happens to Jason,” Sirianni said. “Got good, positive news back on him today. So, I’m not going to put a timetable on anybody, as you know, but we’re hopeful after the bye, he’ll be ready to go.”
Running back Jordan Howard (sprained knee) could also be ready to roll after the bye per Sirianni, who expects to know the status of right guard Brandon Brooks (torn pec) at that point.
Banged up Sunday, cornerback Steven Nelson (shoulder) and linebacker Patrick Johnson (back) are expected to be healthy after the bye.
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Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley was critical of the Eagles for not shaking hands during the coin toss. He was not amused when Fletcher Cox reportedly laughed at Jets head coach Robert Saleh when the coach erupted over a critical pass interference call.
“You see that stuff and you feel that stuff as a competitor,” Mosley said. “And it (peeves) you off.”
Sirianni didn’t exactly put out the fire.
“Obviously we always just want to be respectful to our opponents,” Sirianni said. “I did like Fletch’s response to they didn’t shake hands, that, well at least they hugged before the game. So, I thought that was clever by Fletch. But we respect the Jets. I do believe we respect every opponent we play. I have a ton of respect for Coach Saleh and the job he’s doing. I want to continue to have that relationship with him. I want to continue to practice against them in training camp. I think that was good for both sides to be able to do that, and so just want to keep that relationship going. But I understand that frustrations happen out there.”
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Eagles players worked Monday and are off until next week according to Sirianni, who prefers they use the week to “especially get their bodies right.
“I’m going to do the same thing for the coaches,” Sirianni said. “We’re going to work tomorrow as coaches and Wednesday will be up in the air about what we are going to do. But I want our coaches to get away, so we’re fresh and ready to go when we get back in.”
