Mathews’ aching ankle allows Smallwood to have big day
PHILADELPHIA >> Eagles rookie running back Wendell Smallwood was beginning to wonder if he’d ever get into the end zone again.
The Wilmington, Del. product was buried on the depth chart behind Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner. He was playing fewer snaps at his position than backup tackle Matt Tobin was getting at tight end in the team’s heavy packages.
But it all came together Sunday when Smallwood exploded for 79 yards on 17 carries and his first touchdown, a one-yard pop to give the Eagles a four-possession lead in what became a 34-3 win over the Steelers.
“It has been a long time coming,” the fifth-round pick out of West Virginia said. “It felt good to get into the end zone and get my first touchdown since I don’t know how long. Since probably December.”
Smallwood led the Big 12 with 1,159 yards rushing last season. He also ran for nine scores. He was slowed by a quadriceps injury in training camp, a concussion in the preseason and a lack of familiarity with the offense once the regular season began.
With Mathews nursing an ankle injury, Smallwood got his big break. Then again, after ripping off runs of 14 and 12 yards to put the ball on the one-yard line of the Steelers, he was stopped for no gain.
“I really thought they were going to send someone in because I couldn’t get in,” Smallwood said. “But they left me in and kept showing the confidence they have in me and how much they believe in me. It just boosts my confidence and makes me want to go hard after them.”
The next run was a charm.
Later in the game, Barner ripped off an eight-yard TD run.
Mathews had two carries for minus-5 yards.
“We’ll get him evaluated and I will update you tomorrow,” head coach Doug Pederson said.
*** Brandon Graham recovered a fumble and notched his third sack to stoke the defense. Fletcher Cox added two sacks of Ben Roethlisberger and with three on the season, is tied for the team lead with Graham. Bennie Logan had the fourth sack of Big Ben. Logan also blocked a field goal attempt.
The defensive line has been instrumental in helping the Eagles register a stunning plus-6 turnover ratio.
*** NOTES >> Running back Darren Sproles caught six passes for 128 yards, including a 73-yarder to bust open a 13-3 game. Sproles didn’t stick around to talk about it, though . ... Carson Wentz now owns the Eagles rookie record with a 125.9 passer rating. He has thrown 102 passes without an interception, currently the longest streak to begin a career in the NFL . ... The 31-point margin of victory for the Eagles was their largest since they defeated the Bears, 54-11, in Dec. 2011 . ... Eagles veterans Malcolm Jenkins and Ron Brooks raised their fists to protest social injustices during the playing of the national anthem Sunday. Teammates Steven Means and Marcus Smith, who joined them last week, declined to do so.