Eagles vs. Bengals snap counts: Still no production from J.J. Arcega-Whiteside

Let’s break down the Philadelphia Eagles’ snap counts from their laughable Week 3 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals.

OFFENSE

• Matt Pryor got the start at right guard with Nate Herbig taking over at left guard.
• Jason Peters got hurt late in overtime. John Clark reports he’s not seriously injured and will be fine. Jordan Mailata came in to play left tackle when JP was out.
• Zach Ertz led all skill players in playing time. He saw 10 targets for seven receptions and 70 yards. Including a big 30-yard grab on the Eagles’ final drive of regulation to tie the game.
• John Hightower played 40% of the Eagles’ snaps in Week 1 before dropping down to 10% in Week 2. With DeSean Jackson, Jalen Reagor, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside all getting hurt, he led all Eagles receivers in playing time in Week 3. Not an ideal scenario to have your 2020 fifth-round pick in that spot. Hightower saw three targets and caught two balls for 19 yards. He also drew two pass interference penalties.
• Greg Ward only saw 18% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps in Week 2. Dallas Goedert’s injury in this game forced the Eagles to use more 11 personnel instead of 12. Ward caught eight of his 11 targets for 72 yards and one touchdown (in part thanks to a blown coverage).
• Miles Sanders played 71 snaps but only had 22 total offensive touches: 18 carries and four receptions. The Eagles should’ve given him more rushing attempts. They did try to get him more involved in the passing attack but Carson Wentz overthrew him on multiple plays.
• Deontay Burnett had three receptions for 19 yards after being elevated from the practice squad.
• Richard Rodgers caught his two targets for 15 yards. He was getting playing time over JJAW as a receiver. You can only laugh.
• Jackson left due to a hamstring injury but it’s reportedly “not considered too serious.” Jackson has 10 receptions for 121 yards and zero scores so far this season.
• JJAW was just such a bad pick. Maybe he would’ve played more if he didn’t get hurt before the game but injuries also hampered him last year. It’s not a good excuse. JJAW has played 62 snaps this year and he’s been targeted twice for zero receptions. Very cool. Meanwhile, D.K. Metcalf is still very awesome.
• Boston Scott’s three carries gained five yards. He was targeted on a screen but Wentz threw way wide of him.
• Corey Clement is up to nine carries for 27 rushing yards this year. He has two receptions for two receiving yards. Not giving this team much.
• Jalen Hurts had a nice designed run for eight yards and a first down. Then he fumbled on an RPO exchange but fortunately recovered.

DEFENSE

• Rodney McLeod hasn’t missed a snap this year.
• Jalen Mills had a productive day on the box score with five total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits. But he also had issues in coverage, including committing defensive pass interference in the end zone to set up a Bengals touchdown.
• Darius Slay came out of the game and to get his arm looked at before returning.
• Cre’Von LeBlanc saw a big boost in playing time after only logging 4% of the Eagles’ snaps in Week 2. Good to see because Strap is a good player. LeBlanc was the primary nickel cornerback with Nickell Robey-Coleman seeing a decrease in playing time after struggling against the Los Angeles Rams.
• Brandon Graham shows up to play every single week no matter how bad the team might be around him. Four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, and two sacks in this game.
• Kudos to Fletcher Cox for coming alive with three quarterback hits, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Had a good day despite playing through injury.
• T.J. Edwards overtook Duke Riley as the second linebacker behind Nathan Gerry. Edwards’ pass coverage limitations were on display at times.
• Malik Jackson entered this game leading all 4-3 defensive tackles in pass rush win rate. He had four quarterback hits, 0.5 sack, and 0.5 tackle for loss in this one.
• Avonte Maddox was having some issues in coverage again before leaving the game early due to an ankle injury. He was replaced by veteran Trevor Williams.
• Josh Sweat officially started over Derek Barnett but they both played the same exact amount of snaps. Sweat had two quarterback hits, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Barnett had two quarterback hits, two sacks, and two tackles for loss.
• Javon Hargrave has failed to log a single stat through his first two Eagles games. Reminder that Philly gave him a contract worth $13 million annually this offseason, making him the league’s 13th highest paid 4-3 defensive tackle.
• Genard Avery had one tackle and that’s it. With the Eagles looking bad, they potentially gave up a very high 2021 fourth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns just so Avery can do almost nothing for them.
• Marcus Epps had a nice pass breakup in the end zone on one of his eight snaps.
• As previously mentioned, Riley’s role really shrunk.
• K’Von Wallace has one defensive snap over the last two games.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Davion Taylor has yet to play a defensive snap this season. It’s not like the Eagles need him, though, since they’re so set at linebacker.
• Grayland Arnold played 12 special teams snaps in his NFL debut.

DID NOT PLAY

INACTIVE: Alshon Jeffery, Jalen Reagor, Rudy Ford, Nate Sudfeld, Jason Huntley, Jamon Brown, Casey Toohill.

• Jeffery is expected to be back in Week 4 or Week 5.
• If Reagor is going to miss more than three weeks, as has been suggested, why wasn’t he placed on injured reserve to open a roster spot?