Agholor ready to return to Coliseum
ANAHEIM, CALIF. » The game is still a few days away, yet Nelson Agholor can visualize a packed Los Angeles Coliseum, hear the band playing “Tribute to Troy” and “Fight on For Old SC!.”
What Agholor remembers most about his threeyear tour with the Trojans, who turned him into a firstround pick of the Eagles, isn’t the year he led them with 104 catches worth 1,313 yards and a dozen touchdowns.
No, it’s blocking for Marquise Lee … on a kickoff?
“His opening kickoff return versus Hawaii, where I was blocking for him,” Agholor said after Eagles practice. “It was just a great time.”
Agholor is having a stellar season with the Eagles as he’s totaled seven touchdowns, one on a fumble recovery. He’s third on the club with 40 receptions and his 15.0 average per grab is second.
Agholor was the only effective receiver in the loss to the Seahawks, as he erupted for seven receptions for 141 yards and a TD.
With the Eagles practicing in Cali this week, he’s feeling nostalgic.
“It was a blessing because I was there with a lot of men that I know that I could count on and we had a lot of fun in the Coliseum,” Agholor said. “We felt like that was our territory – a place where we could lock the doors and have fun. An amazing football tradition. It’s something that I’m blessed to be a part of. I’m just blessed to have an opportunity to be back here in the Coliseum on Sunday and to be in LA.”
Agholor will have some family and friends cheering him on Sunday, including his girlfriend. Wildfires permitting, of course.
While there’s no official word the fires or smoke will impact the game, the raging winds have fanned the flames north and west of LA, wreaking devastation.
“For me, I feel for people in LA who have families here that are going through that,” Agholor said. “We just hope that everybody is safe and that the wildfires calm down.”
Eagles tight end and leading receiver Zach Ertz suited up and returned to practice Thursday.
It’s a good sign, but doesn’t mean he’ll play Sunday.
Mostly the big guy was holding the blocking dummy for his teammates in the phase of practice open to the media.
Destiny Vaeao (shoulder) also was back at work.
NOTES » Eagles running back/kick returner Darren Sproles stopped by to take in practice and offer encouragement to his teammates. The California resident didn’t move at all like he’d had surgery for a fractured forearm and a torn ACL ... The Eagles and Rams have met in Los Angeles only once since 1978, the Eagles securing a 27-21 victory in 1990. Mike Quick caught three passes for 37 yards, including a 15-yard scoring throw from Randall Cunningham. Michael Anthony Quick does the radio commentary for the Eagles with play by play man Merrill Reese … Speaking of Reese and Quick, they’re being filmed for an episode of The Goldbergs, the sitcom set in the 1980s in Jenkintown. Also in the shots are football operations chief Howie Roseman and front office exec Don Smolenski. Ah, the Cali life … The Rams are solid in the kicking game. Greg Zuerlein has booted 36 field goals on the season, just three away from Jeff Wilkins’ single-season record of 39 set in 2003. Zuerlein drilled a team-record seven to beat the Cowboys … Craig Wrolstad is the referee Sunday. Expect a wellcalled game.