Radnor grad Wilson pushing for roster spot
PHILADELPHIA » If you’re a Nifty Fifty’s fan, you may have bumped into Eagles hopeful Tim Wilson without realizing it over the summer.
Wilson’s parents reside in Sharon Hill. The East Stroudsburg product by way of Radnor High accepted their invitation to stay with them and avail himself of the local resources. The 5-9, 170-pound Wilson is a fan of workouts and the Ridley version of the Nifty Fifty’s milkshake, not always in that order.
Then again, you might have seen Wilson in Plymouth Meeting, where he learned the Eagles’ pass routes from a veteran receiver who has two Super Bowl championship rings.
“I worked out up there with Torrey Smith and he helped me a lot,” Wilson said during a break in Eagles training camp. “He gave me insight on a lot of the things I need to know, all the little details I needed to know. Every time I would do a route or a drill with him he would comment like, ‘Oh, that’s a championship rep right there.’ That gave me a lot of confidence to come in here and try to dominate. Especially after he came in here and won a Super Bowl. He’s a great guy.”
Smith started 14 of 16 games last season for the Eagles, who traded him to the Carolina Panthers for defensive back Daryl Worley. The DB was cut not long after an early morning arrest in South Philly.
Smith didn’t have a Pro Bowl season but he caught 13 passes for 157 and a touchdown in the playoffs, trailing only Eagles stars Zach Ertz and Nelson Agholor in receptions. Only Alshon Jeffery (three TDs) had more scoring catches for the Super Bowl champs.
Smith also was a valuable resource for the Eagles’ younger receivers throughout the season, just as he reached out to Wilson, vying to make the squad as a slot receiver and special teams player.
Wilson showed up Sunday in the one-on-one drills at training camp as he drew an obvious holding penalty on veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins, and later walled off safety Tre Sullivan for what would have been a touchdown. Sullivan tried to jump the route. Wilson is quicker than either of those defenders, one of the strengths that got him through a tryout and into the mini and training camps.
“I just remember how he flashed with his speed, quickness, agility, really good ball catcher and quite honestly, he’s a smart kid,” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said. “He understands routes. He understands leveraging defenders. And so, it warranted an opportunity to compete in camp. And obviously where he’s at and where we are with some of the health issues that we have has given him an opportunity to show what he has and compete a little bit.
“I’m excited to see him in these upcoming games to really be able to evaluate against, obviously, another opponent.”
Wilson is grateful for the opportunity. It wasn’t a favor from Radnor alum John DeFilippo, formerly the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach and now offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. Wilson showed what he could do being in the right place at the right time.
“I came in ready for camp so now I’m just playing football,” Wilson said. “I feel good out there and this is fun. I know my plays well now so nothing can really hold me back. It’s just fun. I’m just trying to get more reps. It’s going well. Torrey, he was like, ‘you belong there. You’ve got the physical capabilities. You’re fast enough, you’re strong enough, you’re quick enough, you’ve got the hands.’ My mom, my dad and my whole family, we were all Eagles fans growing up. They’ve been praying for me, telling me that it wasn’t by chance that I got here. I just want to be the best me I can be.”
*** It was an interesting day of camp.
Ronald Darby switched from right to left cornerback Sunday, bumping Jalen Mills from left to right corner.
That’s how the duo began the 2017 season at Washington.
De’Vante Bausby was first out in his nickel cornerback competition with Sidney Jones.
Sullivan picked off a deflected Joe Callahan pass but otherwise had a rough day. Receivers got open against Sullivan and cornerback Rasul Douglas, who some consider a safety.
Rookie defensive end Josh Sweat (6-5, 251) is making himself noticed.
The fourth-round pick out of Florida State batted down a pass and showed a burst coming off the right side in 11 on 11s.
Also, second-year linebacker Nate Gerry made a sprawling one-handed interception in a team drill – or did he?
“I dropped it when I hit the ground,” Gerry said. “At least you guys thought I had it.”