Opinion: Eagles must change their philosophy after another injury-ravaged season
PHILADELPHIA — We have seen this for the second straight season, how the Eagles' expectations and hopes of a Super Bowl ended up ravaged with injuries and well short of the mark.
Go ahead and give the Eagles credit for rallying from sub-.500 records in the last two Decembers to make the playoffs, going from 5-7 after a demoralizing loss to the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 1, to 9-7 with four straight must-win games to win the NFC East.
But that euphoria ended Sunday after the Eagles lost 17-9 to the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.
So now, as the Eagles begin their offseason, they have to look at everything, starting with how a team loaded with talent and depth before the season, fell apart again because of injuries.
"We all hurt," Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham said. "I'm proud of how we fought, but it's a hurt feeling. You have to go home. It was a one-game season ... We just came up short."
It's easy to see why.
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The Eagles had 13 players on injured reserve this season. They finished the game Sunday with just three of 11 starters from the season opener in place.
At times during the game, the Eagles fielded a team similar to what one might expect in a meaningless August preseason game, with Josh McCown at quarterback, Boston Scott at running back, with wide receivers Greg Ward, Shelton Gibson and Deontay Burnett.
McCown is 40 years old, coaxed out of retirement last summer, in his 18th season. The other players were on the practice squad as recently as Nov. 23.
There was no DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, or running back Jordan Howard, or right tackle Lane Johnson or right guard Brandon Brooks.
All of them were out with injuries. They were joined on Sunday by quarterback Carson Wentz, who suffered a concussion on a Jadeveon Clowney hit in the first quarter.
At least Wentz made it through all 16 games of the regular season, something he didn't do in the previous two seasons, when he had to watch backup Nick Foles lead the Super Bowl run in 2017 and the playoff run this season.
But Wentz’s playoff debut lasted all of eight snaps. Still, he held everything together over the past month, pretty much willing the Eagles into the playoffs. There was just too much to overcome after he left the game.
“He’s like apologizing and stuff,” safety Malcolm Jenkins told NBC Sports Philadelphia after the game. “It’s like, ‘Bro, it’s out of your control.’ He didn’t let us down at all. We wouldn’t be in this spot without Carson."
Instead, blame the philosophy of signing players on the other side of 30 years old who have had histories of breaking down. Jackson, for example, was the speed receiver the Eagles desperately needed. But he hasn't played a full 16-game season since 2013.
The Eagles got just one full game out of Jackson this season.
He was by no means alone. Jason Peters will turn 38 later this month. He missed three games this season with a knee injury. There were so many more.
The Eagles need to get younger and healthier, and they need to draft better. That’s why they were in the predicament of relying on older players in the first place.
Rookie second-round pick Miles Sanders is becoming a star after rushing for 818 yards this season, and 69 more on Sunday. But wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, the Eagles' other second-round draft pick, didn't catch a pass.
He was more than overshadowed by Seattle's D.K. Metcalf, taken seven picks after Arcega-Whiteside, who finished with 7 catches for 160 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass.
Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas, second and third-round picks in 2017, respectively, can't get on the field.
Ward was the Eagles' best wide receiver over the final five weeks of the season, and he spent three seasons on the practice squad before getting his chance.
Scott, too, shined after finally getting a chance. He had 25 yards rushing and 23 yards receiving.
"We never stopped fighting," Scott said. "It never matters who goes down. We're still in a situation where we could have won that game. That's a testament to the coaching staff and the players."
But it's not enough.
Even McCown knew that. He called this season "the time of my life," finally getting a chance to play in a playoff game for the first time in his career.
"I've chased this my whole career," McCown said. "I've been in moments like we were in five weeks ago, when you're coming home on a plane ride from Miami (at 5-7), and you feel like all is lost, and this is a dark place.
"What an honor it was to be in that group and watch (Eagles coach) Doug (Pederson) lead this team, watch the veterans in the locker room lead this team, watch Carson play the way he did down the stretch. That's special."
But now it's over, and a tearful McCown was left to ponder retirement again. "I retired once, so I know how to do that," he said with a laugh.
He won't be alone. Peters could be in the same boat, although he said after the game that he sees himself like New England quarterback Tom Brady, playing into his 40s.
It just might have to be for someone else.
And then there's Malcolm Jenkins. The safety just finished his 11th season, playing every snap in every game for the second year in a row.
But he's 32 years old, and well, his future is uncertain, too.
"It’s definitely going to be a unique year, or offseason," he said. "We’ll see what happens."
So, credit the Eagles for fighting hard over the final weeks of the regular season for this playoff spot, only to see it end, again, in a hail of injuries, short of the Super Bowl.
"Even with as much adversity as we faced all year, to put ourselves in this position ... I was really proud of the effort all season," Pederson said. "Even (Sunday).
"We'll move on from here."
The Eagles have no choice.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.