Eagle Snap count: Offense gets a boost from an unlikely source
The Eagles were finally at full strength Sunday afternoon but that didn't last long.
Dallas Goedert suffered a hamstring injury on the first drive of the Eagles' 20-16 win over the Browns and did not return. In his absence, third-year tight end Grant Calcaterra had a career game.
Goedert played just 3 snaps before leaving on Sunday. Calcutters played 57 of 62 snaps, besting his previous score of 39 against the Giants in 2022.
It was also a career game for Calcaterra, who had 4 catches for 67 yards. He had a 34-yarder and a 20-yarder during this game, and quarterback Jalen Hurts seemed to trust him.
“Well, I think the biggest takeaway from this, and in five games, that was the only time where we were really, you know, everybody there, our clean slate, first unit, first team,” Hurts said. “And that certainly presents a challenge in itself that we have to overcome as a team. But I am very proud of how, they were ready to step up and prepare.
“And then, honestly, some things just pop, you know, grant. He had two back-to-back (catches). Yeah, the second one was never supposed to go to him, honestly. It wasn't his ball. But he showed up. We were able to get it to him and he ran with the ball in his hands.”
Before Sunday's game, Calcaterra had 176 career yards in 34 games. He had more yards against the Browns in 15 games last year. Calcutta's performance on Sunday was 27% of his career output.
Other objectionable notes
• Jordan Mailata played the first 49 snaps of the game before leaving with a hamstring injury. Fred Johnson played the final 13 snaps and held on against All-Pro Myles Garrett. After the game Mailata was seen on crutches and with her left leg in a sleeve.
• Jalen Hurts and four of these five offensive linemen played 62 snaps. Devonta Smith also played all 62 and had 3 catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
• AJ Brown returned from missing three games with a hamstring injury and played 57 of 62 games. AJ Brown had a typical game with 6 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Then Jahan Dotson played 22, Johnny Wilson played 4 and Paris Campbell did not see the field.
• At running back, Saquon Barkley played 49 of 62 snaps and had his toughest game of the season. He had just 47 carries on 18 rushing attempts. Jim Schwartz's defense did a good job against Barkley. Kenny Gainwell played 13 snaps and Will Shipley did not see the field for the offense.
• Reid Blankenship got three of his snaps on offense. He is a deep man of victory formation. Whenever Eagles fans see Blankenship get offensive snaps, it's a good thing.
Protective note
• The biggest personnel change after the bye week was the switch from Avonte Maddox to Cooper Dejean as the nickel cornerback. Dezin started the game and played 52 of 57 defensive snaps (91%) and played well. Maddox was the extra defender in the dime package and was on the field for just two games.
• Zach Bown, Quinion Mitchell, Blankenship and C.J. Gardner-Johnson did not leave the field after playing 57 snaps.
• In DT: Jalen Carter (43), Milton Williams (26), Jordan Davis (21), Moro Ojomo (21), Thomas Booker (8). Ojomo is getting pressure and earning a real spot in this rotation.
• Edges: Josh Sweat (39), Bryce Hough (31), Brandon Graham (23), Nolan Smith (21). Huff's 54% is a season high and he's finally done some good things. Huff had a couple of tackles, half a sack and a QB hit in this game. The Browns have given up a ton of pressures and sacks this season but the Eagles were good up front on Sunday.
• When the Eagles went to their dime package, Bown stayed on the field and Nakobe Dean left. That's why Dean played 55 of 57 snaps.
• Darius Slay played 29 snaps before going down with a knee injury. In his place, Isaiah Rodgers played 22 snaps and Kelly Ringo played 6. That's a boost for decent depth at cornerback for the Eagles.
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