Eagles RB D'Andre Swift getting reps at WR
The Philadelphia Eagles spiced up practice on Thursday by having running back D'Andre Swift work with the wide receivers. Utilizing Swift in the passing game isn't anything new that head coach Nick Sirianni had not already had up his sleeve, however, it is the first time that reporters on sight have actually seen him get reps […]
The Philadelphia Eagles spiced up practice on Thursday by having running back D'Andre Swift work with the wide receivers.
Utilizing Swift in the passing game isn't anything new that head coach Nick Sirianni had not already had up his sleeve, however, it is the first time that reporters on sight have actually seen him get reps with the wide receivers over the running backs.
"I think that's the best way to explain him — that he is a playmaker," Sirianni said last month, via Fox Sports. "You see it in practice that he can create mismatches that when you get him the football, he can catch the football and make plays with it.
"I think what we've really seen is you're going to be able to move him around multiple spots because of his ability not only with his athletic ability, his quickness in and out of breaks and his speed, but also the way he catches the football. It looks like a wide receiver catching the football out there."
Getting targets in the passing game also isn't anything new for Swift, who reeled in 156 catches for 1,198 yards in his three seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Sure, the Eagles already have plenty of weapons at receiver with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, but being able to utilize Swift in the air could give their third-ranked offense a new look and an even bigger advantage at attacking opposing defenses.
"You have these different boxes that you want to be able to check of plays that you know or schemes that you know are important to attack a defense," Sirianni said. "Those can be supplemented in a lot of different ways as far as the way your backs get touches. But you're harder to defend when you have a lot of guys in different positions that can do it, so you can be in these different personnel groups and still running similar plays for your quarterback."
Whether or not Sirianni uses Swift at wide receiver on Sunday when the Eagles take on the New England Patriots will be something to look out for.
Second injury report for Eagles vs. Patriots, Week 1
One new face on Thursday’s injury report.
Featured image by Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
