In 2019, Philadelphia Eagles WR Greg Ward was thrust into the spotlight after injuries decimated the Eagles’ wide receivers.
Ward, 25, who was cut by the Eagles before the start of last season but was re-signed to the team’s practice squad, had 28 receptions for 254 yards and a touchdown in 2019. While the numbers are not eye-popping, the converted college quarterback showed he could be a fairly dependable slot receiver for Philadelphia.
However, the Eagles stocked up on wide receivers in this year’s draft. Philadelphia selected WR Jalen Reagor in the first round and grabbed wideouts John Hightower and Quez Watkins later in the draft. Also, former second right pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is in the mix, and DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery will be back from injury.
After a promising 2019 season, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson expects big things from Ward in 2020.
“I’ve always liked Greg,” Pederson said on Wednesday via a video call. “He’s been on our practice roster. As a young player, we activated him. He played last year, as you mentioned, did well.
“The one thing now as he goes into this season, he’s in that rotation, in that starting mix for us. It’s just a matter of him embracing every day, getting better. Being a former quarterback, he understands our offense. Being in our offense, he knows the concepts and the routes. He and [QB] Carson [Wentz] have a really good feel for one another.
“I think for him now it’s just a matter of continuing to get better each and every day and putting in the work. We expect some really big things from Greg. He can also be a leader. He can be a leader of that group. Him and [WR] DeSean Jackson, [WR] Alshon Jeffery, these guys, they can be leaders now and mentors to these young players.”
Last season, Philadelphia started the year with five wide receivers on its roster, but most teams keep six. Because of his contract, Jeffery($11.5 million guaranteed) will probably be on the team. Jackson, Reagor, and Arcega-Whiteside will probably grab the other three wide receiver spots, and you have Watkins, Ward, and Hightower in the mix.
There will be a lot of competition among the Eagles’ wideouts, but without a preseason, Ward could have leg up on the younger wide receivers, and even though Pederson speaks highly of Ward, you could see a scenario where Ward is traded or cut, especially if the younger guys impress right away.
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