Philadelphia Eagles: A great Malcolm Jenkins moment that will be forgotten

Once again, Malcolm Jenkins comes up huge for the Philadelphia Eagles, but unfortunately, this will be one of those great moments that everyone soon forgets.

Since his arrival in 2014, Malcolm Jenkins has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s so good that everyone’s seemingly begun to take him for granted.

Week after week, he gives it his all, and so often, we fail to acknowledge that because that’s what Malcolm Jenkins is supposed to do. He’s supposed to be dependable.

Malcolm Jenkins is supposed to be on the field because that’s what he does. He plays in every game. He’s in for every snap, and he stays healthy. We don’t mention that enough. Maybe it’s because so many of us are superstitious, and we think that if we talk about what seems to be an indestructible frame, we’ll jinx everything and he’ll finally get hurt.

Maybe it’s because we’re spoiled. Who knows what it is. Maybe it’s both, but no one pats Jenkins on the back for wanting a new deal and coming to work anyway while so many others would have held out.

No one talks about his leadership. No one rallies on his behalf for a new deal (except for ITI of course). No one wants to talk about how the Eagles were lost at safety in that stint between Brian Dawkins‘ departure and Jenkins’ arrival, but we should.

The NFL game is a game of inches, and on Sunday that was proven again. The line between wins and losses is blurred often. On September 22nd (yes, Harold Carmichael‘s birthday), Jenkins did all he could to help deliver the Eagles’ second victory of the season.

With less than two minutes remaining, Jenkins blocked a field goal that would have put the Detroit Lions up by six points. His buddy, Rasul Douglas would scoop the ball and come within inches of taking the ball back for six. Another block or a missed tackle, and who knows? Talking about it doesn’t do this one justice. Take a look for yourself.

The return would be called back because of an illegal block on the return. That’s right inches (it was a ticky-tack but whatever). Still, with the ball at midfield, Jenkins had given his team a shot. On fourth and fifteen, Carson Wentz‘s final pass came within inches of being completed to JJ Arcega-Whiteside. The Eagles would lose again, and in doing so, another opportunity was wasted.

In losing, Jenkins’ effort went from being one of those great moments in Eagles history to being a great play in a bad loss, and that’s a shame. This was too special of a moment to be forgotten, but the season will continue. Jenkins will continue to play. He’ll continue to play well, and at the end of another great season, we’ll go back to talking about his money, maybe.

Let’s hope the Eagles, at that point, will have grown wiser and decide to give it to him. This man has earned his wings and the respect of every Eagles fan.