Adrian Fedkiw
Five of the six projected Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers are pretty much set in stone: Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor and Mack Hollins, but who will be the sixth and final wideout to make the roster?
Greg Ward Jr. has now entered that conversation.
The former University of Houston quarterback was praised by offensive coordinator Frank Reich on Wednesday, and head coach Doug Pederson echoed some of those statements on Thursday.
Greg has been one of the young players that, right now, he’s caught our attention, he’s a smart kid. Number one, he’s a former quarterback. So obviously, he knows what he’s doing, so just excited. Now, I think these next couple days we start getting the pads on, too, just to see where he is from a physical standpoint, as well. Then as we increase the volume of information and guys get tired and things like that, see where he is mentally. But right now, (I’m) pleased with his performance and what he’s done.
This is what Reich had to say Wednesday.
I think Greg’s transition has been phenomenal. Again, I say that, I get excited as a coach. I see he has some instinctive natural movements as a slot receiver, things that are hard to coach that he does exceedingly well. He has a knack, he has very good ball skills. I’m just really surprised. I think he’s way exceeded expectations. But the other side of me, ‘Okay Frank, temper that, we’ve still got a long way to go.’
A long way to go indeed, but you can’t help but get excited when you see one-handed catches like this.
Greg Ward (with the new number 89) has the catch of the day so far pic.twitter.com/auCNTfkhAK
— John Barchard (@JohnBarchard) July 24, 2017
What’s working in Ward’s favor at the moment is the dismal play of fifth-round rookie Shelton Gibson. He was the clubhouse favorite to land the sixth and final wide receiver spot, but according to Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation, Gibson has been the worst wideout of the 11 that are currently on the roster.
Shelton Gibson dropped a pass. And then another while I was writing this tweet. #Eagles
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) July 26, 2017
Re: Shelton Gibson’s struggles
He's been 5x worse than Agholor was in the regular season last year, but with no defense on the field.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) July 26, 2017
I don’t mean to pick on Gibson, I hope he turns it around, but he’s been that bad. He’s been the worst WR of the 11 on the Eagles’ roster.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) July 26, 2017
If Gibson can’t turn it around, that opens up the door for Ward to potentially make the team and Gibson to be put on the practice squad. But Gibson isn’t the only one that Ward is going to have to fend off this summer. Marcus Johnson, Paul Turner, Bryce Treggs and David Watford will all be competing for that last wide receiver spot too.
Ward, who began his career with the Cougars as a wideout and recorded 228 yards and two touchdowns, recorded 8,704 passing yards with 52 touchdowns and 26 interceptions while also adding 2,381 yards and 39 more scores on the ground during his four years at Houston.
There’s a long way to go until the rosters are finally revealed, but Ward is making his mark.
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