Larry Henry Jr
If you asked Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor about his production over his first two NFL seasons, I’m sure he would admit he needed to deliver more for the team. Luckily for the third-year wideout, he has the backing from vice president and general manager Howie Roseman to turn things around heading into the 2022 campaign.
Roseman took to the stand Wednesday for his year-end press conference alongside Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, and was asked about a wide range of topics. Reagor was one of those topics after the former TCU product took a step back in 2021, seeing his statistics drop this past season.
After totaling only 396 receiving yards and one touchdown in his rookie season, Reagor’s failed to take a step forward in 2021, finishing the 18-week season with only 299 yards and two touchdowns. Not only did Reagor’s production drop, but so did his confidence, failing to come up with big plays in games against the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the second half of the season and playoffs.
Roseman continues to back Reagor to improve as a professional wideout, but didn’t sugarcoat his expecations for him going into next season.
“Certainly, heading into year three, expected more from [WR] Jalen [Reagor] at this point.” Roseman said. “We had a chance to sit down with him after the season and had an honest conversation about the things that he needs to develop and the things that we can help him develop to continue his growth, in terms of learning from anything. We have to do that. We have to continue to evolve.
“We kind of have to look at not only the things that maybe we don’t like about our decision-making, not just talking about Jalen in this situation, but talking about as a whole, but also the things that we did well,” Roseman added. “I think that’s part of continuing to grow in your job and in your profession.”
Reagor finished fourth on the Eagles roster in receiving yards, but ultimately was unable to impress both the fans and media alike. Reagor registered the lowest catch percentage out of any Eagles offensive weapon that started 10 games or more, hauling in a mediocre 57.9% of his targets.
In addition, Reagor wasn’t a consistent threat on special teams, finishing with 482 total return yards and zero touchdowns. Overall, the former first round draft pick hasn’t lived up to expectations through his first two NFL seasons and will be under a smaller microscope in 2022.
The Eagles do have a special talent in 2021 first round pick DeVonta Smith, who led the team in receiving yards this season, but Smith will need help from Reagor among others if the team wants to become one of the dangerous offenses in the league long-term.
“Jalen Reagor, we want more production from Jalen Reagor and he has all the talent to do so,” Roseman said. “So, I like him in that No. 3 spot right now to be able to make plays because he has skill, he has talent. It’s our job as coaches to get that skill and that talent out of him so it produces on the field. And it’s our job as coaches to put him in position to succeed.
“And that’s a two-way street,” Roseman said. “I’m not by any means saying I’m taking all the blame or all the credit or whatever it is, because it’s a two-way street, and Jalen has to make the plays when the opportunity arises. But he does have extreme talent for what we are considering a No. 3 receiver – to be able to make plays.”
The Eagles continue their offseason plans after being eliminated from the NFL Playoffs last weekend in Tampa Bay.
You can follow Larry Henry on Twitter (@lhenry019) and e-mail him at [email protected].
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