OL Peters continues to defy age

The Super Bowl championship parade a distant memory, the Eagles conceded they needed to get younger this season.

General manager Howie Roseman described the need as an infusion of youth and said that going forward, players had to check three boxes: Can he run? Is he healthy? Does he love to play? The exception is Jason Peters. At 38, Peters has played one complete season out of the last three and let’s face it, his running days are over.

The interesting thing about Peters returning for a 17th NFL season, including a dozen with the Eagles, is that the career left tackle loves to play football so much that he’s agreed to step in at right guard, where All-Pro Brandon Brooks is out with a torn Achilles’ tendon.

“We had many conversations with Jason,” head coach Doug Pederson said Monday on a Zoom call. “We took a look at our roster

and felt that where Jason is, and the type of player he is, and obviously his leadership on the football team that the transition (to guard) would be relatively easy. I’m not going to say it’s going to be easy but it’s going to be relatively easy for him being a veteran guy moving into that guard spot.”

Pederson wasn’t pressed, with the time he spends on conferences limited. But if Peters has said it once, he’s said it a thousand times: Name a left tackle with the Eagles who is better than him. It would surprise no one if he wound up on the left side this season.

The Eagles are giving Andre Dillard, their 2019 first-round draft pick, the first shot at the left tackle job. Remember, they tried to trade Dillard and their firstround pick to move up in the recent draft for speedy receiver Henry Ruggs III, who clocked a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash at the combine.

Dillard started three games in his rookie season at left tackle and another at right tackle. Peters reporting with the veterans Tuesday in any form is an admission that the Eagles are seriously concerned about the offensive line for the first time since the Super Bowl season.

That Pederson was talking Dillard up after a tough NFL intro followed by an offseason with no organized practices gives you an idea of where the new tackle’s confidence is.

“Quite frankly, we love where Andre’s at,” Pederson said. “He’s had a tremendous offseason. The things he did for us last season, the couple of games he played and started for us he did well. It’s just going to be a great opportunity for him moving forward. I’m looking forward to really getting those five guys working up front with (coach Jeff Stoutland) to see where they can go this season.”

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On Tuesday afternoon, Eagles WR Marquis Goodwin opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.