Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Smallwood ready to adjust to Ajayi with ‘open arms’
Wendell Smallwood has played enough football to know its most basic rule: When something is jostled, it canbounce in some unfortunate ways.
Smallwood is the Eagles’ running back, and has been a good one through a 7-1 start. But trusting opportunity over demand this week, the Birds traded a fourthround draft pick to Miami for Pro Bowl running back Jay Ajayi. Let the ricochets begin. And let thembegin on the depth chart.
Though Doug Pederson has not been so transparent as to formalize any newplaying rotations, it’s logically assumed that Ajayiwill receive some of LeGarrette Blount’s reps, that Blount will receive some of Smallwood’s, and that Smallwood will bemarginalized in the second half of the season.
As for Thursday in theNovaCare Complex, all Smallwood did was marginalize that theory.
“It came as a surprise to us all,” the second-year back said. “But we were all happy. We knew who we were getting with him. And we knew they were trying tomake this team better.”
Smallwood started the season strong, gaining 105 yards on 22 carries over back-to-back games against the Giants and Chargers. But a minor knee issue cost him two games, and perhaps more. Two weeks ago, hewas given eight carries, butmanaged just 25 yards against the Redskins. Last week, in a 33-10 victory over visiting San Francisco, he was permitted to carry once.
Enter Ajayi, who has been trusted this season to carry the ball up to 26 times in a Dolphins game … and enter some odd-man-out considerations.
“I think so,” Smallwood said. “But I think guys just put their head down and work regardless and welcome him with open arms. And if you are contributing to this team, and if you’re here, you’re supposed to be here. And if you’re here, I think it is only going tomake this team better.”
Like Smallwood, Corey Clement could experience depth-chart suppression. Clement, though, has more of a special-teams presence.
“Jay Ajayi can make a great contribution to this team,” Clement said, “and we can’t wait to utilize him.”
••• San Francisco offensive tackle Joe Staley left the Linc Sunday with a broken right orbital bone. And Fletcher Cox’s fingerprint was found at the scene.
For that, Cox casually held his breath Monday, Tuesday andWednesday. Andwhen a Thursday practice came and went, he figured he would not receive a bill for the finger-to-eye collision.
“No I didn’t get fined,” Cox said. “It’sThursday. Normally fines come out onTuesday. So if it’s a fine, then I know my agent will do a great job of appealing it.”
As far as Cox is concerned, that appeal could be reduced to two words: Not guilty.
“It was an interception and obviously you are looking for people to block,” Cox said. “Honestly, I could have cracked back on him a lot earlier. But me being a respectful player, I respect Joe a lot, a guy that has been around this league. I pulled up on him. He was coming full speed, and we both braced at the same time. It was just amistake. My hand went into his helmet.”
Staley will miss at least one game. But the injury was not as serious as originally feared.
“Iamgladthathe’sOKand thankful that I didn’t break my hand in the process,” Cox said. “It’s a game, and things happen so fast. He was frustrated at the time. He thought it was a dirty play, but, honestly, who goes out to poke someone in the eye? We’ve got helmets on. But I did reach out to Joe to make sure everythingwas all right. We talked through it. And he did tellme he was on the opposite side of the same situation. At that point in a football game, what could I do?”
••• With the Indianapolis Colts ready to snag Nate Sudfeld from their practice squad Wednesday, the Birds activated the former Redskins quarterback. Defensive tackle Justin Hamilton waswaived to create the roster room.
Not that Carson Wentz has to sweat the depth-chart threat, but Sudfeld felt reassured about his commitment from the Birds.
“Absolutely,” he said. “You can say all you want, but actions speak louder than words. To have them activate me means a lot, and I amvery happy that they did.”
••• With the best record in the NFL at 7-1, the Eagles have become a team that opponents are likely to takemore seriously. And with that, the challenge becomes more serious, too.
That could be evident Sunday at 1, when the Denver Broncos visit the Linc.
“Maybe,” Jason Kelce allowed. “I don’t think about that too much. It’s going to come down to us doing our jobs. I think we have seen, schematically, different things than we’ve seen on tape. Teams are trying to do different things to try to throw you off defensively. You definitely see more of that.”
••• Ronald Darby (ankle) and Zach Ertz (hamstring) were limited in practice Thursday.
Beau Allen (foot), Kenjon Barner (hamstring), Brandon Graham (shoulder), Patrick Robinson (concussion) and Halapoulivaati Vaitai (hip) were full practice participants.