Examining Washington Football Team’s Week 1 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles

How Washington can take advantage of Philadelphia

The Eagles are having major issues on the offensive line right now. The left tackle who was supposed to replace Jason Peters, Andre Dillard, tore his bicep in late August and is out for the season. Brandon Brooks, who rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 guard in 2019, tore his Achilles in June and will also miss the season.

Brooks’ injury led to Philly re-signing Jason Peters. It was their intention to have Peters replace Brooks at guard, but now that Dillard has been lost, there has been a lot of talk about returning the 38-year-old Peters to the crucial left tackle position. Peters has demanded more money before making such a move.

The Eagles are saying all the expected things about this situation. They profess to have every confidence in Matt Pryor, the massive sixth-round 2018 draft pick who has been filling in at left tackle since Dillard went down. But with Chase Young and Montez Sweat looming come September 13, there are a lot of nervous Eagle fans who would feel far better with Peters back at left tackle.

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Adding to this problem, right tackle Lane Johnson has been held out of practice of late with a lower-body injury. At this point, no one thinks Johnson will miss the opener, but it is worth remembering that Johnson’s ankle injury late last season had a major negative impact on the Eagles offense. Rookie Jack Driscoll has been running with the first-team offense in Johnson’s absence, and the prospect of facing Young and Sweat with Pryor and Driscoll at the tackles is enough to make a lot of us WFT fans drool.

Adding to potential issues in their Week 1 contest, that vaunted defensive interior is likely to be missing Javon Hargrave, who has been nursing a pec strain for a few weeks. He will not require surgery, but his availability for the first contest is very much in doubt. With Malik Jackson returning from a foot injury that cost him the entire 2019 season, one of the Eagles’ biggest strengths may be a point of vulnerability, at least in week one.

And finally, though DeSean Jackson’s return will no doubt fill Washington fans with feelings of dread, Jalen Reagor’s shoulder tear will keep him out of Week 1, and no one is sure when Alshon Jeffrey will be ready to get back on the field. That means Philly will still be struggling to find reliable playmakers on the outside come opening day. Arcega-Whiteside and rookie John Hightower have great potential, but both are still very young and unproven.

Objectively, the Eagles still have a very good roster, easily better than WFT at this point. And in Doug Pederson, they have the only returning head coach in the NFC East, which should give them a signifcant advantage in this COVID-restricted season.

But Week 1, with the new energy that Coach Rivera is likely to bring to Washington, and with injuries to several vital Eagles likely causing some lineup juggling, this could be a very good chance for the team to hit the ground running.

There has been a lot of talk about culture change in the front office this offseason. I think we’re all ready to see some culture change on the field come September 13, now just 156 hours away as of this writing.