NFL
Philadelphia Eagles Re-Sign Jordan Matthews to Improve Their Wide Receiver Core
The Philadelphia Eagles have re-signed their former wide receiver Jordan Matthews to their active roster. Philadelphia brought Matthews out to their facility for practices earlier this week before signing him on Wednesday. The signing of Matthews follows the Eagles placing Mike Wallace on IR (Injury Reserve) after fracturing his fibula and requiring surgery.
Matthews’ History in Philadelphia
Jordan Matthews, a Vanderbilt alumnus, was drafted 42nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2014 draft. Matthews has caught passes from four different quarterbacks in his previous three seasons with the Eagles, two of which are still on the team: Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, and Carson Wentz.
Matthews struggled in his first three seasons in the league. In 2015, he only had one game where he tallied more than one touchdown. He ended that season with 8 total touchdowns off of 85 receptions and less than 1,000 yards. His best ranking year yet poorest statistical year was in 2016, Wentz’s rookie year. Matthews only scored 3 touchdowns off of 73 receptions and 804 yards. This lowering in production can also be attributed to Wentz’s heavy targeting of tight end Zach Ertz.
Throughout the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons, Matthews landed at the 36, 39, 31 rankings on the receiving list respectively. At the end of his third season in Philadelphia, the Eagles traded Matthews to the Buffalo Bills for cornerback Ronald Darby as well as a 2018 3rd round pick.
Health Problems Since 2016
During his first season with the Bills in 2017, Matthews injured his thumb was later placed on IR due to a knee injury. At the conclusion of his fourth season in the league, the Bills did not re-sign the WR at the conclusion of the 2017 season. Matthews did, however, sign a one year $1,000,000 contract with the New England Patriots in April of 2018. At the beginning of preseason, Matthews’ history with injuries struck again.
Matthews was unable to recover from his “significant hamstring” injury in time to prepare for the regular season. In lieu of the situation, New England released Matthews with an injury settlement in August.
Band-Aid or Bust?
The Eagles welcome the return of their starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, this Sunday with the thinnest wide receiver core Philadelphia has seen in almost a decade. The non-TE targets available to Wentz are Nelson Agholor, Shelton Gibson, and Kamar Aiken, after both Wallace and Mack Hollins have been placed on IR. Star WR Alshon Jeffery is “week to week” according to team officials, however, it is likely he will not touch the field until mid-October.
So the need for a WR is blatantly apparent but is Matthews the right one? Matthews is a slot receiver, a role the Eagles’ top active WR, Agholor, is already filling. Moving Agholor out of the slot has proven detrimental as his 2016 season showed. Matthews will most likely have to line up out of the slot this season for the Eagles. That is if he plays.
The banged-up WR joins an even more injured Philadelphia Eagles squad. In order to compensate for the various injuries on the team, it would make more sense to sign a WR who hasn’t struggle with three major injuries rather than one that has, Matthews, being the latter. Matthews is just as likely to join his fellow Philadelphia WR’s on IR.
To Matthews’ credit, Wentz is familiar with the wideout. Throughout the 2016 season, they developed a strong on and off the field chemistry. Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman is undoubtedly betting on that chemistry returning. So yes, Roseman has found a solution to a problem, but does that solution become another problem? Oh, Negadelphia.
Photo credit to Dora Grande via Flickr
