Wisniewski not finished with Eagles after all

O-lineman’s deal brings him back to ‘where I’m supposed to be’

PHILADELPHIA — It looked as if Stefen Wisniewski wouldn’t be back for a fourth year with the Eagles.

After they declined to pick up his $3.7-million option March 11, Wisniewski tweeted: “I am no longer an Eagle. Thanks to all my teammates … it was truly a special group. I will cherish my memories from our Super Bowl Season as long as I live.”

But things changed, and two months later Wisniewski agreed to a one-year, $1.5-million contract to remain an Eagle, much to his delight.

“I always knew coming back here was an option,” Wisniewski, 30, said. “I took some time, weighed all my options, prayed about it a lot. Just really feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.

“Familiarity is a part of it. The NFL is often a business where people just kind of turn over year after year and it’s hard to build relationships.

“I’ve been with the same guys here pretty much for four years. I love these guys.”

They’re pretty fond of him too.

Wisniewski is an experienced, versatile offensive lineman. He can handle both guard positions and center, and played all three spots last season, including the final 37 offensive snaps after Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Brooks ruptured his Achilles tendon in the mid-January NFC divisional playoff loss to the Saints.

Wisniewski started the first four games at left guard in 2018, then was replaced by Isaac Seumalo in Week 5. He remained a factor, playing 13 snaps in relief of center Jason Kelce (elbow injury) in a Week 6 victory over the Giants and starting the final three regularseason games — all games the Birds had to win to make the playoffs — at LG after Seumalo hurt his chest.

“He’s a guy who’s seen it all in the league and also been a starter at the center position,” Brooks said. “He brings versatility, leadership and smarts to the position.”

Said Seumalo: “Since I’ve been here, Wiz has been not only a good teammate but friend and mentor. I’m always working with him after practice. There’s a reason he’s here — he’s productive and makes the seven or eight [linemen] we go into a game with that much better. We’re more assured and comfortable.”

Wisniewski is one of five Eagles offensive linemen with at least 80 NFL starts. By comparison, NFC East rival Washington has one (tackle Donald Penn, 174).

A second-round pick out of Penn State, Wisniewski had started all 77 games in which he had appeared with the Raiders and Jaguars — 62 at center and 15 at left guard — before the Eagles signed him as a free agent in 2016.

Wisniewski has started at least six games in each of his three seasons in Philadelphia, highlighted by 11 starts at left guard in ’17, when he logged 202 of a possible 207 snaps during the Eagles’ three playoff victories en route to winning Super Bowl LII.

“Man, that Super Bowl year was the most fun I’ve ever had playing football,” Wisniewski said. “If I can be a part of that again, in whatever role, I think I want to take a shot at that. I think we’re going to win a lot of games this year.”

With Kelce and numerous other regulars sitting out the preseason, the 6-foot-3, 305pound Wisniewski started at center and played the first half in the first two exhibition games. Not only is it the position at which he’s gotten the fewest reps with the Birds, but it’s also the most difficult of the three interior spots.

In addition to snapping the ball, centers call out the blocking assignments and must know what all five linemen are supposed to do.

“Center’s a lot more mental responsibility,” Wisniewski said. “Guards don’t have to think as much.

“The center is analyzing the whole defense, getting everyone on the same page. That one’s a whole different animal. Footwork-wise and everything, it’s very different than guard.”

Wisniewski was back at guard during practice Sunday and Monday.

When — it’s not “if ” in a 16-game NFL season — injuries strike the Eagles, Wisniewski will be ready to come into the game as a stabilizing force.

“It’s not easy to master three positions at once, but I’m doing the best I can,” Wisniewski said. “Honestly, I know with the Eagles that we have a great shot to win a Super Bowl.

“I knew, at some point, someone’s going to get hurt on the O-line and they’re going to need me. I wanted to be here to be a part of it.”

The Eagles are fortunate to have him.