The feeling around Philadelphia after the controversial decision by Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni appears to be that everyone is slowly moving on from it and accepting it.
Sirianni decided to rest the starters in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders, but the Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions, so Philly's loss in that game cost them a shot at the number two seed in the NFC playoffs. Many Eagles starters have shown their appreciation for resting, regardless of the outcome of the Week 18 games.
Now moved on from it and focused on getting right for their Wild Card game against the San Francisco 49ers, the media asked Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata about getting that rest and if he feels 100% better. Mailata educated everyone that rest is great, but there is a process to be fully ready for a game.
"It's more like a delayed gratification. You feel it more toward the end of the week. At the start of the week, kind of rusty," Mailata said via The Athletic's Zach Berman. "But as you practice during the week, you get your legs, you get firing again. ...It sucks going from 0 reps back to 100 percent practice reps, it's not what you think it is, 18 weeks in. ...It's a delayed gratification from a resting standpoint, feeling-good standpoint. You feel it toward the end of the week."
Eagles starters working their way back from resting for a week
This all works like the preseason, when the starters rest up before the regular season. It's a process to go from doing nothing to being fully in a game.
In recent years, the Eagles have had success with resting the starters before the playoffs. It worked out well in 2022 and 2024, when Sirianni made the same decision as the Eagles did, reaching the Super Bowl both years.
While it would have been nice to have a second guaranteed home game on the calendar, there is a science to resting the players. With all the issues the 49ers are having with injuries to the roster, the Eagles are looking like the healthier team and arguably the healthiest team in the playoffs.
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It remains to be seen whether the Eagles' risk will pay off with a win, but while many may not like the idea, Sirianni did what was best for his team.