Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Regular-season game in London is some welcome news for Ajayi
PHILADELPHIA » While they happened to have another particular obligation in mind Thursday, the Eagles found out they will play a game in London in the 2018 regular season.
In the first overseas regular-season game in their history, the Birds will play the Jaguars either Oct. 21 or Oct. 28 at Wembley Stadium. It will be a home game for Jacksonville.
For Jay Ajayi, who born in London and did not move to the United States until he was 7, the game will have special meaning.
“I am an NFL-U.K. Ambassador,” Ajayi said, after practice. “It was a great surprise. It’s not my focus this week, obviously. But it’s good to know I can go back over there again next year.”
Ajayi played in London this season, rushing for 46 yards in the Miami Dolphins’ 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He came to the Eagles before the trade deadline.
“It was special,” he said. “I had a lot of my immediate family out there. So it was a cool time. We lost, though. But that was another team. I am not worried about it.”
Ajayi replica jerseys are reported to be the highestselling in London.
“All the games sell out,” he said. “Obviously, it has grown over the years. The exposure is there. I have been over there and I have seen it first-hand with the kids. They are playing. It’s been good. The game is growing over there, which is cool.”
The Seattle Seahawks will open the 2018 London series at Tottenham Stadium, Oct. 14, against the Oakland Raiders. The Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Chargers will play either Oct. 21 or Oct. 28 at Wembley.
The NFL schedule is typically revealed in April.
••• Doug Pederson had Eagles with Super Bowl experience address their teammates this week.
“I feel like it’s important for a lot of our younger players that have not experienced what postseason play is about to hear from the guys that have been there,” he said, “and kind of what it takes to prepare themselves for not only divisional games, but hopefully, games after this.”
LeGarrette Blount, Chris Long, Malcolm Jenkins, Torrey Smith, Corey Graham, Will Beatty and Dannell Ellerbe are Eagles with Super Bowl experience.
“It was great to hear those guys discuss their Super Bowl experiences,” Vinny Curry said. “But the best speech of all was when Brent Celek addressed the team. I felt where he was coming from. It has been nine years to he has been to this point. Think about that. Nobody wants to sit on the couch next week and watch the game. That’s going to be a sick feeling. So we are going to lay it all out there.” ••• The Eagles practiced at the Linc Thursday. For that lengthy journey across one street and one parking lot from the NovaCare Complex, they required chartered buses and a police escort. Sirens included.
Sidney Jones, who has been battling a sore hamstring, was limited in practice and was listed as questionable. Pederson said he would consider playing Jones Saturday.
“If he’s healthy, yeah,” he said. “That’s a hypothetical, but again if he’s there, we’ll make the decision on game day.”
Ellerbe, whose Wednesday work was limited by a hamstring issue, did practice fully Thursday, yet also was listed as questionable.
Ajayi (knee), Brandon Graham (ankle), Jalen Mills (ankle) and Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) practiced without restrictions.