Keeping skilled egos on even keel could be a challenge

PHILADELPHIA >> The Eagles’ offseason plan was as clear as it was applauded: Keep adding skilled offensive players, then figure out how to make that work later.

Later comes Sunday afternoon, when the Washington Redskins will visit for the 1 o’clock season opener.

Offensive coordinator Mike Groh, for one, knows that keeping accomplished NFL veterans Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Jordan Howard, Nelson Agholor, Zach Ertz and Darren Sproles satisfied with their touches will only be complicated by any plays called for the younger Miles Sanders, Dallas Goedert or J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.

That’s a lot of egos to satisfy with one football.

“I wouldn’t call it difficult, but we have to be mindful of it for sure,” Groh said. “We don’t want to just subjectively pick plays and then say all of a sudden, well, he disappeared in the game. He didn’t get a chance to impact the game. We’re certainly very mindful of that. Sometimes that means the process takes a little bit longer than it otherwise might.

“We feel like it’s worth it in the end.”

While Groh will have his responsibilities, ultimately it will be Doug Pederson’s job to make everything fit.

“We have flexibility, particularly in the passing game,” the head coach said. “That’s the thing: We’ve got to be careful. Run, pass. Who is in the game? We’ve got to be careful with our personnel. This is why we self-scout a lot about who is in the game on certain plays, and certain down and distances, all that.

“It will be exciting to be able to look at the play sheet. Listen, it has to be going your way, though. We have to be executing for any of it to work. If not, it can be a long day . ... If we’re not executing, it really doesn’t matter.”

••• As with any team, the Eagles will enter the season with some questions. None will be connected to Malcolm Jenkins.

After playing just about every snap last season, the veteran safety is ready to continue his ironman routine.

“Nobody wants to come out of the game,” Jenkins said Thursday. “For me, I learn as many positions as I can so I don’t have to come out.”

He doesn’t want to hear about taking a break.

“No,” he said. “I’m taking my breaks during the week to get ready for the game. But when things are on the line, there is no time for breaks.” That is fine with Jim Schwartz. “I mean, I’d like to be up 28 points with about six minutes to play and put a hat on him,” the defensive coordinator said. “You don’t always have that luxury in the NFL. He’s a supremely conditioned player. He’s a great pro, one the best pros I’ve been around in my career. He takes notes in a meeting like he’s a rookie, works in practice, wears out the meeting room, wears out the tape, and so he’s ready for that.

“He’s got it in his DNA to get ready to play every snap.”

••• Derek Barnett’s preseason was punctuated by a shoulder injury. For that, the Birds apparently have a backup plan.

“We’re concerned with everybody, but we’ve got a long way to go until Sunday,” Schwartz said. “We’ll see where everybody is. We have good depth at that position. I think whoever we put out there will be able to get the job done.”

It doesn’t give Schwartz much added comfort that his other projected defensive end, Brandon Graham, also missed substantial preseason activity due to a knee injury sustained from late last season.

“I think every player is different,” Schwartz said. “Every player has a different injury, different conditioning level, plays a different position. I think you’ve got to take them all on a case-by-case basis. You need good communication during the game.”

••• As they should, the Eagles are planning for the Redskins’ do-everything linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.

“Yeah,” Groh said. “He’s a rolling ball of butcher blades.” A what? “An old Al Groh term,” Groh said later, laughing, a reference to his father, a coach in professional and college football.

••• NOTES >> In a back-door blast of honesty, Schwartz began his press conference Thursday like this: “So, what can I be evasive about today?” ... Grugier-Hill (knee), Jordan Mailata (back) and Nate Sudfeld (wrist) did not practice Thursday . ... Barnett (shoulder), Brandon Brooks (Achillies) and Alshon Jeffery (biceps) were limited in practice. Rudy Ford (Achillies) practiced fully.