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Philadelphia Eagles: JJ Arcega-Whiteside turning things around

By Sayre Bedinger

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 27: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Philadelphia Eagles on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on October 27, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Eagles beat the Bills 31 to 13. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 27: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Philadelphia Eagles on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on October 27, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Eagles beat the Bills 31 to 13. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside is responding well this offseason.

The Philadelphia Eagles used four 2020 NFL Draft picks on the wide receiver position, including adding veteran Marquise Goodwin in a trade and using their top pick overall on Jalen Reagor out of TCU.

The message to 2019 second-round pick JJ Arcega-Whiteside was abundantly clear: Kick things into high gear or you could be out.

Earlier in the 2020 offseason, we wrote about the situation Arcega-Whiteside was presented with, and how his roster chances for 2020 weren’t looking all that great.

The former second-round pick out of Stanford had a chance to go out onto the practice field for the Eagles and prove that not only does he belong on the roster, he belongs in the lineup. It sounds like he’s done precisely that at Eagles camp.

With Alshon Jeffery out to open the season for the Eagles and a slew of injuries now plaguing him since 2018, the time could be now for Arcega-Whiteside to really seize the top role as the “X” receiver in the Eagles’ offense.

Jalen Reagor is going to play a role in the offense and can do his damage inside or outside. If DeSean Jackson is healthy, he’s going to play plenty of snaps and provide the Eagles with yet another speedy vertical threat.

There will not be a ton of targets to go around with the Eagles having the best tight end duo in the NFL right now in Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, along with the running backs likely getting plenty of attention in the passing game.

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Even with that being the case, there will be chances for Arcega-Whiteside early on to prove why the Eagles felt he was worth a second-round draft choice just a year ago. It sounds like he’s come to training camp in 2020 with a renewed level of confidence in himself, a better feel for his surroundings as an NFL player, and plenty of big plays.

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