Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Agholor continuing his career flip-flop
Receiver discovering a rebirth as a slot receiver
PHILADELPHIA » For the final inch of his 72-yard catch-run touchdown Sunday, Nelson Agholor would turn and tumble into the end zone. In so many ways, it was his turn to look back.
In the Eagles’ 4-1 start, including a 34-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, the resurrection of Agholor has been a strong and constant thread. A year ago more recognized for dropping passes, not dropping across the goal line, Agholor has surfaced in his third NFL season as a reliable pass receiver. His touchdown Sunday was his third of the season, and with four Sunday, he has made 16 receptions.
“Nothing gets him down,” Doug Pederson said. “He works extremely hard. And he’s playing at a high level right now.”
If Agholor was bothered by the criticism that he’d received early in his career, he rarely let that show. So his backward flop into the end zone Sunday was not as much a suggestion of relief that a weight had been lifted as it was a subtle announcement that he’d arrived safely among pro football’s more reliable receivers.
“That was kind of like a tribute to DeSean Jackson,” said Agholor. “He always used to do that. And I watched a lot of his tapes. So shout out to DJax for that.”
In that, there was plenty of history to be studied, appreciated or understood. Agholor, a 2015 first-round draft choice, had been prone to dropping passes for two years. Even if the criticism was overly heavy, it was not without reason. This year, though, has been different.
“It’s confidence,” Pederson said. “It’s total confidence. I think it’s me believing in him, the coaching staff on offense believing in him, and the players believing in him.
“I see this kid every single day, and he always walks into the building with confidence.”
Agholor’s confidence is building. So the Eagles’ confidence in Agholor is peaking, too. Sunday, the Cardinals threw a third-quarter blitz at Carson Wentz, who received heavy protection, waited and caught Agholor deep along the left sideline. Agholor did a cross-over step on Bubba Baker and raced the last nine yards to the one, where he turned and flopped.
“At first, I thought I was even with him,” Agholor said. “I was ducking my head and then I saw the ball, so I turned up another get to go track it. Carson just gave me a great opportunity and threw such a beautiful ball. It was easy to track and make a play from there.”
Said Wentz: “He made the catch, and really made the guy look silly.”
As he did, Agholor made some critics look a touch foolish, too.
“I’m having a whole lot of fun right now,” he said. “I work my butt off and I want to continue to work my butt off because I enjoy this. I really enjoy the game of football and enjoy the process of getting better. I want to go out there and have fun with my teammates.”
The Eagles have made their first five weeks a party. Sunday, Nelson Agholor gave new ways to celebrate … and reason to not look back.