Philadelphia Eagles losing Jason Peters opens doors for Nate Herbig

Jason Peters’ season-ending surgery opens the door for Nate Herbig.

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ offensive line has been a revolving door this NFL season. Unfortunately, Jason Peters has been a revolving door in a different sense as he’s played the matador all season to opposing pass rushers. Now, much of that isn’t his fault. The Eagles had to bring the 38-year-old and future Hall of Famer back due to injuries to both Andre Dillard and Brandon Brooks. They also asked him to move to right guard from his natural position at left tackle, which is much easier said than done.

Peters’ best days are clearly behind him, and his season-ending toe surgery isn’t the way anyone wants to see this Eagles legend end his legendary career. This certainly isn’t a total negative as far as the team goes, however. Philly’s offensive line has been abysmal for Carson Wentz, but there is a chance that they may perform better for Jalen Hurts.

With Jason Peters out for the Philadelphia Eagles, Nate Herbig steps in.

What’s been lost in the Eagles offensive line’s futility and injuries has been the emergence of a couple of bright spots. Jordan Mailata appears to be a player. He’s the former rugby player that was a raw prospect, but he’s been performing amicably. He’s been on the radar of Eagles fans for a couple of years now, and the fact that he is where the team hoped former first-round pick Andre Dillard would be leaves a sour taste in a few mouths.

The other bright spot has been Nate Herbig. He’s been a myriad of a couple of backup offensive linemen that have had to step in and play, and when he starts at right guard versus the New Orleans Saints, it will be the 12th different offensive line combination for the Eagles in 13 games. While fans have every right to worry about the offensive line as a whole, they won’t have to worry about Herbig as much.

It’s worth noting that while the Eagles sit at 3-8-1, they have never lost a game with Herbig in the starting lineup. Granted that’s only three wins and a tie, but it’s noteworthy nonetheless. Some also may be quick to say that the switch from Peters to a backup in Herbig is a lateral move and not much of an improvement. The thing is, Herbig may bot be a backup for long when you consider this stat:

That is nothing to sneeze at. The fact that the second-year pro, Herbig, only gave up two sacks in his first season of any meaningful action is pretty remarkable. He has the potential to be yet another Eagles undrafted free agent success story.

He’s a load too. At six-foot-four and 334 pounds, this gargantuan guard who can’t even tuck in his undershirt and whose cheeks ooze out of his helmet could be a starter, and a cheap one at that, when all-world guard Brandon Brooks eventually comes back.

Speaking of Brooks, his return will mean that Herbig would have to switch to left guard if he were to start in place of Issac Seumalo, who has had an up and down career with the Eagles. Herbig will also be able to take advice from Peters, and eventually Brooks, to help him develop as a young star.

Learning from two of the best can only help his progression. Jalen Hurts is getting all the attention this week, and rightfully so, but Nate Herbig also has a chance to make an impression, and possibly even gain some deserved recognition when it comes to not only his present but his future with the Eagles.