PHILADELPHIA − Nakobe Dean, the Eagles’ third-round pick last spring, has played a total of 3 snaps at linebacker through three games this season.
That’s three more than second-round pick Cam Jurgens, a center, and sixth-round pick Kyron Johnson, a linebacker have played this season. The other sixth-round pick, Grant Calcaterra, a tight end, wasn’t on the game-day roster until last Sunday, when he played 17 snaps.
Even first-round pick Jordan Davis, a defensive tackle, has played only 32% of the defensive snaps this season, a lower percentage than any of the five defensive tackles.
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It’s as if the entire Eagles rookie draft class is redshirting this season. That likely won’t change much this Sunday when the Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
That, however, does not make the class a disappointment. Far from it. After all, the Eagles are off to a 3-0 start behind a team with several established veterans who are playing well.
That’s why defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said it’s hard to justify giving someone like Dean more snaps over veteran linebackers T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White.
The same applies to Davis, who’s in a rotation behind Fletcher Cox (team-high 3 sacks) and Javon Hargrave, coming off a Pro Bowl season; and to Jurgens, who’s behind a perennial All-Pro in Jason Kelce.
But there are ways these players can get better without playing, or playing much, on Sundays. Gannon used Dean as an example.
“The guy is a sponge,” Gannon said. “Nakobe talks more than (linebackers coach) Nick (Rallis) (in the linebacker meetings) … T.J. has played a lot of ball for us. Kyzir has played a lot of ball. Nakobe, we see every week, he continues to get better as well.
“He’s going to get his chance, and he’ll be ready to go.”
For now, that’s all the rookies can do.
Calcaterra had to wait two weeks just to get on the game-day roster as he was set back somewhat in training camp with a hamstring injury, then found himself behind Dallas Goedert in addition to returnees Jack Stoll and Noah Togiai, who was “elevated” from the practice squad the first two games.
Yet Calcaterra showed he was ready. His first NFL reception went for 40 yards in the Eagles’ 24-8 win over the Commanders on Sunday.
Sure, it might seem difficult going from being the main guy on college teams to fighting for playing time in the NFL, especially as early-round draft picks.
But Davis said that was the case for him at Georgia, the defending national champions.
“At Georgia, we all played our own style and it was complementary football,” Davis said. “That’s the mindset I bring here. I’m never that guy. I’m sure that everybody in here never thinks they’re the guy. We all feed off each other. We all have strength and weaknesses. If my weakness is something Fletch (is strong in), that’s how it works.”
Davis showed that on the second play against the Commanders. The 6-foot-6, 336-pounder burst through Washington’s offensive line and batted down Carson Wentz’s pass. That set the tone as the Eagles sacked Wentz 9 times.
At least Davis is getting the chance.
Ideally, Jurgens won’t play at all this season. He was drafted as a center to eventually replace Kelce. But that time is clearly not now even though Kelce is one month away from turning 35.
Jurgens did get a chance during the preseason when Kelce missed three weeks to have elbow surgery. And he is currently cross training at guard. But Jurgens is behind Landon Dickerson on the left side and Isaac Seumalo on the right side.
Already, Jurgens has shown a lot of the qualities that Kelce has as an athletic center and strong blocker.
“I don’t think it’s ever fair to compare someone to Jason Kelce,” Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said. “But Cam has those critical factors that you look for. His hands are so strong when he gets them on to you … For (left tackle) Jordan Mailata, it took him two years to actually know how to use his hands in the way we’re asking him to.”
Besides, there’s plenty for Jurgens to learn from watching Kelce, who has started every game he has played in ever since the Eagles made him their sixth-round pick in 2011.”Just how smart and savvy he is,” Jurgens said about what he picks up from Kelce. “He knows the offensive side from a defensive perspective, which is pretty smart.”
And Eagles coach Nick Sirianni insisted that the veterans have taken it upon themselves to help the rookies who one day will replace them.
“Fletch is working his butt off to help Jordan Davis develop,” Sirianni said. “That’s special … We’ve heard guys say before, ‘It’s not my job to make sure this guy is good.’ In Fletch’s mind, in Jason Kelce’s mind, it is their job.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
