Matthews in battle for top WR spot
Jordan Matthews surprised people by showing up to Eagles Organized Team Activities after the team added Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith during free agency.
PHILADELPHIA >> Only five NFL players have 65 or more receptions and 800 or more receiving yards in each of their first three seasons.
Jordan Matthews, of all Eagles, is among them.
Yet Matthews almost fell off the depth chart on the first day of free agency, the Eagles scurrying to sign Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, who were coming off less than ordinary seasons.
It was anything but a vote of confidence for Matthews, the 2014 secondround pick out of Vanderbilt who’d given the Birds 19 touchdowns and had been the No. 1 fan of quarterback Carson Wentz.
Nearly everyone figured Matthews would be a goner right around the draft, the Eagles selecting whichever wide receiver slid to them, whether it was Corey Davis, Mike Williams or Johnny Ross. Throw running back Christian McCaffrey and his receiving skills in there, as well.
The prognosis didn’t look much better after the Eagles drafted wide receivers Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson.
All of that said and done, it was nothing short of shocking to see Matthews at Eagles Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week.
The ultimate survivor retained his sense of humor, proof positive his take on dropping from No. 1 to No. 3 receiver without playing a game.
“I think we’re talking about this like we’re playing Madden,” Matthews said of the popular video game. “You know, like there’s No. 1 options on plays. If you don’t come in except on third down but you’re getting the ball all the time, you can play inside and still be the No. 1 option. This ain’t like the 1970s where it’s like one, two, and three. If you’re out there on the field and they’re calling plays for you, you’ve got to make plays. That’s my whole mindset is to go out there and make plays.”
You can go on and on about Matthews’ production. No Eagle has more receptions over their first three seasons than Matthews, who has 225 grabs. His 2,673 receiving yards over that time is third in club history.
The dark side is Matthews finished three receiving yards short of 1,000 in 2015, when he led the Eagles with 81 catches and eight TDs.
Last year Matthews led the Eagles with six dropped passes, the category everyone thinks Nelson Agholor (four drops in 2016) dominates.
Jeffery registered two 1,100-plus yard receiving seasons and 26 TD grabs in five seasons with the Bears.
Smith had one 1,100-plus receiving yard season. He’s scored 37 TDs six pro seasons and earned a Super Bowl championship ring with the Ravens.
Matthews, in the last year of his rookie contract, isn’t certain he’ll be around to start the 2017 season. Then again, there’s no guarantee he won’t be around.
“Whatever is going to happen is going to end up happening,” Matthews said. “So I just try to come in and play hard and do what I can do for my team. I know one thing, I’m glad to have these guys. I’m glad to have Torrey, I’m glad to have Alshon, a lot of the guys they’ve added. The rookies, I’ve been impressed with Mack, Shelton. My big thing is to be a leader, help these guys and try to win a championship.”
Matthews played hurt last season, catching 73 passes for 804 yards (11.0 average) and three touchdowns in 14 games. He wasn’t himself after spraining a knee in training camp. He hobbled through the last part of the season with a high ankle sprain.
Now Matthews is part of a wide receiver competition that his buddy Wentz absolutely adores.
“It’s been great,” Wentz said. “The biggest thing that I’m excited about and that you can see every day is they’re all competing. They’re all competing within the group, pushing each other and helping each other out - which is great to see. Competition is just going to make everyone better. So at the end of the day it’s good to see that competitiveness come out. Even with the younger guys, the rookies helping us out.”
To show you the kind of guy Matthews is, he’s taking his turns at OTAs even though the ankle hasn’t fully healed from last season.
“I’m still working it out,” Matthews said. “I’m just fortunate to be out here grinding again with the guys. I know we’ve got a lot of time and I’ll be good when it’s time to roll.”
Matthews feels the competition for snaps. He’ll be the first guy to confirm he’s fighting for his job along with Agholor, Bryce Treggs and Dorial Green-Beckham, among others.
The difference between Matthews and some of the others is he’s a warrior, not a victim.
“Obviously having more guys on the field that have that type of production over a long period of time, they’re going to garner attention and that’s going to be able to help me get free,” Matthews said. “But I don’t really worry about that stuff. I’ve got to go out there and make plays on my own — whether they’re out there or not.
“I feel like competition is what’s going to help breed production. If you’ve got more guys coming in and working, you don’t have time to worry about this, this and this. You’ve got to worry about going in there and keeping your job. You’ve got to worry about going in and making plays every single day. And that goes for everybody.”