The Eagles have had to rely on some of their rookies through seven games this season, and the first-year players have certainly made an impact on the field. It's time to see how these rookies have fared in the opening weeks of their NFL careers …
Nelson Agholor
The 20th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Agholor has started every game he's suited up. Currently, the wide receiver is working to come back from an ankle injury he sustained in the team's Week 5 game against New Orleans. Injured in the second quarter, he left and did not return to the game. He was then inactive for the next two games against the Giants and Panthers. The bye week will allow him to heal and re-evaluate his status when the team begins to prepare for its game in Dallas.
When healthy, Agholor has been on the field for 61 percent of the Eagles' offensive snaps. The wide receiver has eight catches for 105 yards and is averaging 13.1 yards per receptions. He recorded a career-long 45-yard catch in the team's matchup with Washington. When he returns from injury, Agholor will look to make a more consistent impact on the team.
Eric Rowe
Rowe has made an appearance in each of the Eagles' seven games, with varied roles each week. He has mostly been utilized as a special teams player as he adjusts to the NFL level. However, the team's second-round pick has made the most of his time playing defensive snaps.
Rowe recorded eight tackles in his 106 defensive snaps this season and also grabbed an interception during the Eagles first win of the season. Coming into the Week 3 game for injured teammate Chris Maragos, the rookie picked off quarterback Ryan Fitzpatick in the end zone during the third quarter. Rowe played 92 percent of the team's snaps the following week as well before settling back into his special teams role after Maragos returned.
Jordan Hicks
Hicks has unarguably made the biggest impact of the Eagles' 2015 rookie class. In his first NFL game, the linebacker only saw time on the field as a member of special teams. That quickly changed in Week 2.
After linebackers Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks went down with injuries, Hicks was put into the game beside veteran DeMeco Ryans. He recorded seven tackles while also sacking and forcing a fumble of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo (knocking Romo out of the game). Since then, he has started in four of the team's five games.
The rookie leads the team in tackles with 48 and is tied for first in the NFL with three fumble recoveries. Those fumble recoveries came in three consecutive games against the Jets, Redskins and Saints. The linebacker has also recorded an interception and two tackles for loss. He will look to continue to build on his already stellar rookie campaign following the bye week.
Denzel Rice
Of the team's free agent rookies, Rice was the only one to make the Eagles' 53-man roster. He has had limited playing time, appearing in two games. He played his first NFL game against the Jets and saw the field again against Washington. Rice has exclusively played on special teams.
Notables
A sixth-round pick this year, JaCorey Shepherd unfortunately has not seen the field this season due to injury. The team placed the defensive back on Injured Reserve after he tore his ACL during a Training Camp practice.
The Eagles have four additional rookies who are members of the team's practice squad. Randall Evans was a 2015 sixth-round pick for the team, while Brett Boyko, Malcolm Bunche and Travis Raciti all signed with Philadelphia as free agents.
