Philadelphia Eagles WR Jalen Reagor returns to practice for Day 2, sort of

One of the determining factors in how the Philadelphia Eagles offense performs and progresses in 2021 could, very well, revolve around a player we haven’t given as much time to discuss as of late, second-year wide receiver Jalen Reagor.

He missed the first day of practice at Eagles camp with what was described as lower-body tightness, but he was back on the field and warming up early for Day 2. Unfortunately, he’d spend most of his day participating in individual drills on a side field. He wasn’t on the field for any team drills.

Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer also added fuel to the blaze as he reported he had failed a conditioning test before camp’s first practice. That isn’t what you want to see. Take a look at last year’s first-round selection getting some work in early on Thursday.

Philadelphia Eagles fans should be excited about Jalen Reagor returning to work.

Saying Reagor’s first season with the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t go according to plan is an understatement. There’s no need to re-visit what did and didn’t happen here because most of you know that story well.

Reagor hauled in 31 receptions on 54 targets, and that resulted in 396 yards and a touchdown. That isn’t what you want out of the 21st-overall selection, but some of the expectation for him in Year 2 should be the following. With a bonafide and legitimate number-one receiver on the roster now in DeVonta Smith, the pressure is off of Reagor to make plays.

Now, that Jalen can settle into a role that should have been his in the first place, playing Robin to someone else’s Batman, this could be a breakout year in what equates to his sophomore season.

The Eagles currently have nine wide receivers on the training camp roster. Here’s the list: Reagor, Smith, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Jhamon Ausbon, Travis Fulgham, Quez Watkins, Greg Ward, Michael Walker, and John Hightower. The expectation is that Philly will carry six guys into the regular season on the 53-man regular-season roster.

Reagor is obviously a shoo-in to make the squad, but no one has any idea of what he’ll look like until the games begin to count against the win-loss tally. Keep the faith if you’re a Birds fan though. Jalen Reagor is too fast and too talented to be ignored for too much longer.