Eagles roster watch: 3 Reasonable expectations for Jalen Reagor’s season

1. Reagor should join the starting lineup by Week 4 at the latest.

This one shouldn’t come as any real surprise to anyone. In his draft profile of the 21st-overall selection, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein gives Reagor an overall grade of 6.36 which means he’s expected to be a starter within his first two weeks of the season, so any predictions that throw Reagor into the starting lineup by Week 4 actually give him two more weeks of a cushion.

Thanks to COVID-19, there hasn’t been an offseason like this one ever. The rookies don’t have the benefit of rookie minicamps or the voluntary and mandatory minicamps. Their entire training, for now, comes from virtual meetings done in front of their computer or smartphone.

In order for all of the Eagles’ rookies to build chemistry with their teammates, on-field work will have to become a part of the process. Truthfully, the same can be said about an eight-year veteran like Marquise Goodwin, who has never taken an on-field snap with Carson Wentz in practice or in a game.

Alshon Jeffery, if he’s present and on the team, will probably start on the team’s PUP (physically unable to perform) list. For that reason, Goodwin, the veteran, should probably start at the season’s opening because of his experience.

Based on educated guesses alone and based on the fact that teams draft guys in the first round to compete immediately and the fact that Goodwin is only signed for a single season, Philly’s long-term investment in Reagor means the “Birds” need to get him on the field early (and they will do just that) and shift Goodwin from the starting to the reserve role. We’ll see if that happens.