Seumalo hopes his recovery ends with a roster spot
PHILADELPHIA » Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo wasn’t crazy about having his foot sliced open in October to accommodate pins and screws to treat a Lisfranc sprain, nor in February to have the metal removed.
Difficult as that was, it wasn’t nearly as tough as following orders to stay off his feet for 12 weeks while highly regarded rookie draft pick Landon Dickerson not only took over his job at left guard, but dominated while doing so. Those thoughts, that disconnect can clutter anybody’s head. Seumalo isn’t ashamed to say he reached out for help.
“Big shoutout to my mom for coming out to help me out a bunch,” Seumalo unabashedly said at the end of the Birds’ OTA sessions Wednesday. “I couldn’t have done it without her. She was out here when I couldn’t walk for a long time. When I didn’t feel like getting up off the couch, she was extremely helpful. And also, just the company, to be honest. When you’re on IR and injured and away from the team you can sometimes feel like you’re not necessarily a part of the team.”
Just as Seumalo can see the light at the end of the tunnel, there are whispers that when he’s all the way back from the injury, he could be traded or released for a cap savings of $5.6 million. Why? The Eagles are running out of space in the offensive line room.
Dickerson, the left guard, isn’t going anywhere. Dickerson (6-6, 333) and tackle Jordan Mailata (6-8, 365) have become legend.
The Eagles drafted Cam Jurgens in the second round to succeed Jason Kelce. Reading between the lines, Jurgens has enough upside to compete for a starting guard job.
Eagles veteran Jack Driscoll has started at guard and tackle. Former first round pick Andre Dillard is the swing tackle. The Eagles still haven’t given up on nasty guard Sua Opeta.
All of which leaves the 28-year-old Seumalo without much of a future here, although he’s trying not to think about it. Seumalo is unwilling to talk about any understanding he has with management, assurances or not, going forward.
“I can’t talk about any of those sorts of conversations,” Seumalo said. “I’ll tell you one thing, out there on the field I’m going to ball out as soon as I can. Coach (Jeff) Stoutland always talks about how hungry dogs run faster, and I’m about as hungry as they come.”
Hard to believe this is the same Seumalo who has had dominating stretches and who, for
better or worse, was supposed to be the heir apparent to Kelce. But this is the NFL, and much like Brandon Brooks, who recently retired, Seumalo has been in and out of the lineup due to injuries with increasing regularity in recent years.
The last thing the Eagles would do is disturb the chemistry and mass provided by Dickerson and Mailata (6-8, 365).
For now, Seumalo is learning to play right guard. Let’s not forget that his best position might be right tackle, or that in one preseason game he played all five positions for the Birds.
“It’s been an adjustment for sure, but talking to guys like Brandon Brooks, he was the best at the position so I talked to him a bunch,” Seumalo said. “But it’s been going real well. I loved playing next to Jordan. That’s been great. But I feel to play next to Lane (Johnson), they’re both two of the best at what they do.”
The Eagles are deep on the offensive line, at least on paper through the end of OTAs. Seumalo knows that as well. The only real question now is what kind of market there might be for Seumalo, a
third-round pick in the 2016 Carson Wentz draft. When he’s fully healthy the Eagles would be foolish keeping him around as a backup.
Seumalo said the rehab is just about over. His calendar has a circle around July 26, when players report for training camp. Seumalo knows he can play, and he knows that he’s not the only one who knows. Right now it’s just a matter of getting sharp. Let the competition begin.
“First and foremost, every year you’re competing,” Seumalo said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a 12-year All-Pro or a firstyear rookie. You’ve got to come in with that mindset that they’re always going to bring in somebody to compete for your job. It is what it is. I’m no stranger to that. But I think when I’m healthy the film says a lot, that I can play at a really high level. And I still feel that way, especially with how the foot’s been recently feeling. I definitely feel that when I’m good and ready to go I’ll be out there playing.”