It’s one thing to know how to play a position. It’s another thing to do it.
Eagles second-year wide receiver Jordan Matthews prides himself on both.
While Matthews has been used primarily in the slot during his first year and change in the NFL, he knows how to play outside. And last week, he got a chance to show it.
Against the Giants, with Nelson Agholor out and Josh Huff and Riley Cooper banged up, Matthews played outside in 12 personnel (two tight ends) because Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said they wanted to have their two best receivers on the field.
“So we were thin a little bit for a little while there at receiver, but Jordan can play any position for us, outside receiver, right side, left side or inside,” Kelly said.
Matthews might get another chance to play outside Sunday night against the Panthers in Carolina. Agholor has been ruled out again, while Cooper (knee) is questionable and Josh Huff (knee) is probable.
“It’s one thing to know what everybody is doing, but it’s another thing to know it and be able to do it,” Matthews said. “And that’s kind of the situation I was in last game and this game. I love those situations. I feel like that’s what I was brought here to do. If you want to play in this offense, you have to be smart, you have to be versatile and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Matthews has been working hard to make sure he knows the outside receiver position with the Eagles but pointed out playing outside is something that comes naturally to him.
Before he got to the NFL and the Eagles made him a slot guy, Matthews played outside at Vanderbilt.
“Now that I actually get some opportunities to go back outside, I am kind of in that comfort zone of what I was pretty much doing my whole life,” he said. “But at the same time too, there’s a learning curve because when you don’t do it for so long and you go back to it, you've got to continue to get those reps. But like I said, it’s natural. It’s like riding a bike.”
