PHILADELPHIA – You’ll need an updated scorecard to keep track of the Eagles’ roster in their regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night.
Both teams had clinched playoff spots, and their seeding could only change marginally, and that would be based on the outcome of the other games Sunday.
For the Eagles, resting their starters heading into the playoffs next week was more important.
DeVonta sets Eagles receiving record
It didn’t take long for wide receiver DeVonta Smith to set the Eagles’ record for receiving yards by a rookie, breaking the mark set by DeSean Jackson when he had 912 receiving yards in 2008.
Smith came into the game needing 38 yards to break the mark. He caught a 25-yard pass from quarterback Gardner Minshew on the third play of the game, but didn’t get another catch until the final minute of the first quarter.
He caught a 12-yard pass from Minshew to the Eagles’ 48. Then Minshew came right back to him on the next play, a quick-out for 4 yards. That gave Smith 916 yards receiving this season.
Granted, Smith needed the extra 17th game to get it, but it’s still a nice accomplishment.
Kelce makes (very) brief appearance
Center Jason Kelce was one of 12 players placed on the COVID-19 list last Monday. Many of them were starters.
But Kelce was the only one to come off. After all, Kelce came into the game having started 121 consecutive games, the longest among NFL centers.
Kelce extended the streak to 122. He took the first snap of the game, then came out.
As for the other 11 on the COVID list, the Eagles elevated the following players from the practice squad as COVID replacements – T Kayode Awosika, LB Christian Elliss, DB Jared Mayden, DB Mac McCain, TE Richard Rodgers, TE Noah Togiai, T Casey Tucker and DT Raequan Williams.
Tyree Jackson’s 1st catch memorable
Tight end Tyree Jackson had played in the previous eight games, but had not caught a pass in his NFL career.
That changed Saturday. With Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll on the COVID-19 list, Jackson became the Eagles’ top tight end. They also elevated Richard Rodgers from the practice squad.
So on 3rd-and-goal from the Cowboys’ 3, Jackson got his chance when he caught a shovel pass from Gardner Minshew and scored the first touchdown of the game.
Jalen Hurts out, DeVonta Smith in
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was not on the game-day roster, so Minshew was making his second start of the season.
Reid Sinnett served as the backup quarterback. He has never played in an NFL game.
Minshew started in place of Hurts against the Jets on Dec. 5, when Hurts was out with a sprained ankle suffered the week before. Minshew completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and 2 TDs that day in the Eagles’ 33-18 win.
In addition, right tackle Lane Johnson (rest/knee) and left guard Landon Dickerson (thumb) were not on the game-day roster. They didn’t practice this week.
At cornerback, Darius Slay and Steve Nelson were inactive, as were defensive linemen Josh Sweat, Derek Barnett and Javon Hargrave. Fletcher Cox is on the COVID-19 list, so all four starting defensive linemen aren’t playing.
At running back, Miles Sanders (hand) was also on the inactive list, and Jordan Howard and Boston Scott are on the COVID-list. That left rookie Kenny Gainwell and practice squad elevation Jason Huntley as the only running backs.
The only position where the Eagles had all of their players was at wide receiver.
For the Cowboys, quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Amari Cooper all started and played.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
