By: Kylan Watson

The 2019-2020 NFL season was filled with so much promise for the Philadelphia Eagles. The team picked up some big pieces during free agency. They signed Defensive Tackle Malik Jackson, to be a big part of a good defensive line. They also re-acquired Desean Jackson from the Buccaneers. However, injuries would once again derail a promising season for the Eagles.

The injury bug started biting the Eagles early in the season. In their first game against the Washington Redskins. Malik Jackson went down with an injury to his foot early in the game. It would turn out to be a Lisfranc injury which required season ending surgery. A big part of the defensive line for the Eagles was missing for the rest of the season. The Eagles would go on to win this game, but that was just the beginning.

The following week Alshon Jefferey and Desean Jackson both suffered injuries against the Atlanta Falcons. These two were big parts of the receiving core for the team. Both would not return to the game and the Eagles would go on to lose the game.

The Eagles would continue to pile up injuries to key players through out the season and despite this the team went on a run late in the season.  Winning their last four games to obtain a 9-7 record, reach the playoffs, and win the NFC East Championship.

The team rallied around the “next man up” mentality that propelled the team to a super bowl championship in 2017, a 2018 playoff run, and a playoff run this year. The Eagles were able to plug in holes on the team especially on the offensive side. Thanks to players off the practice squad like receiver Greg Ward Jr.  He caught a game winning touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to beat the Redskins. Boston Scott who was a big part of a two-headed rushing attack, and the play of Carson Wentz.

Wentz would suffer a concussion early in the first quarter of last week’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. The injury to the franchise quarterback proved to be the one injury the Eagles could not overcome this year.  The Eagles would lose the game 17-9.

When the Eagles look back on this season, they may wonder what would have happened if they didn’t suffer so many key injuries through out the season. The window in the NFL is very short for teams to continue to contend, and nothing is guaranteed.

The Eagles will be a different team in August, some key players may not be back, but the one thing that will continue to be important on this team will be depth. It will be up to Howie Roseman to fill the holes on the team and continue to find players who can contribute right away. In hopes that eventually the injury bug will stop biting the Eagles, and maybe they can enter a postseason at full strength.