You have to be prepared for moments like this, both the player and the team. A player goes down, it's the next-man-up mentality. That's the way it is in the NFL. And when you're a new player on a new team, well, the urgency is even greater to be ready for your chance.
For Trey Sermon, a chance is coming. He's expected to be active for Sunday's game against Jacksonville with Boston Scott recovering from a rib injury suffered on Sunday in the win over Washington. Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell are healthy and expected to do what they've done in this 3-0 start, so there isn't a definite expectation of what Sermon's role would be, but he's ready for anything and everything the Eagles throw his way.
Or hand off his way, in this case.
"I'm really excited," he said at his NovaCare Complex locker on Friday afternoon. "I know they brought me here for a reason and it's just another opportunity for me to go out there and help this team win. I feel pretty good about the offense. I've been caught up to speed, getting the reps in practice, and getting more comfortable with the offensive linemen getting in sync. It's been good for me."
The Eagles acquired Sermon off waivers from San Francisco on September 1 and since then he's been on a crash course to learn the offense. The former Oklahoma and Ohio State star was a third-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2021. He had 41 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown, along with three receptions for 26 yards in his rookie season. But Sermon didn't make the Niners' 53-man roster, so he's got a new NFL life with the Eagles.
He intends to make the most of it.
"I expect to go out there and be efficient and be at my very best and do what I have to do to help this team win," he said.
It helps that the Eagles dedicate a portion of their daily practices to developing players like Sermon – members of the roster who don't see a lot of playing time (to date) and who need to stay sharp for instances like the one Sermon is potentially facing on Sunday. Head Coach Nick Sirianni oversees the developmental phase of the roster and think it pays huge dividends in the end.
Sirianni thinks Sermon has picked up the offense and is ready to fly.
"I think really well," Sirianni said on Friday when asked how Sermon has picked up the scheme. "He's a smart guy. (Running Backs/Assistant Head Coach) Jemal (Singleton) is a really good coach, so they've spent a lot of time working together. One thing we're doing this year, that's really helped is there's an additional period this year. We always know we have the developmental period at the end, I've told you guys about that.
"Another attempt to develop young players and to develop guys that weren't here with Training Camp, stuff like that, kind of like we did with Gardner Minshew. We're doing a walkthrough, a developmental walkthrough before each walkthrough to get those extra eight reps there. Then we're also doing a 2s versus 1s, 1s versus 2s in practice where we're actually running our plays versus the defense and vice versa. Those reps add up. Obviously, Trey has done a great job picking it up, Jemal has done a great job coaching it, and he has gotten a lot of the reps of doing it."
Sermon has made the most of his time as the Eagles started the season 3-0 in September. He's taken all of the mental reps. Now he wants to show what he can do when his number is called.
"It was tough not playing because I'm competitive and wanted to be out there, but I just had to learn the playbook," he said. "I knew it was kind of tough, but I had to go through the process. Whatever it takes to help the team win, that's what I am here to do."
As for the rest of the team, they practiced at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday in preparation for Sunday's game. Here's the official injury report:
Did Not Practice
• RB Boston Scott – Scott is out for Sunday's game. He is listed with a rib injury.
• CB Avonte Maddox – Maddox is out with an ankle injury for Sunday's game. Josiah Scott sits behind him on the team's unofficial depth chart.
Full (*All of these players are good to go fro Sunday)
• WR A.J. Brown – He returned to practice on Friday after welcoming his newborn son, A.J. Brown, Jr. on Thursday.
• G Landon Dickerson – Dickerson was questionable for last Sunday's win with a foot injury. He was limited Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice. He practiced in full on Friday.
• DT Milton Williams – Williams returned to full practice
• RB Miles Sanders – Sanders returned to full practice.
• CB Darius Slay – Slay returned to full practice.
• WR DeVonta Smith – Smith returned to full practice.
Thursday
Did Not Practice
• WR A.J. Brown – Did not practice due to a personal matter.
• RB Boston Scott – Scott missed a second consecutive practice due to a rib injury.
Limited Participation
• G Landon Dickerson – Dickerson was questionable for last Sunday's win with a foot injury. He was limited Thursday after missing Wednesday's practice.
• CB Avonte Maddox – Maddox is new to the injury report on Thursday. He's listed with an ankle injury.
• DT Milton Williams – Williams was again limited with a knee injury.
• RB Miles Sanders – Sanders was limited again with a hip injury.
• CB Darius Slay – Slay returned to practice after missing Wednesday because of his back, though limited.
• WR DeVonta Smith – Again limited with a back injury.
Jaguars Injury Report ⬇️
Wide receiver Zay Jones was added to the injury report on Thursday. He and Christian Kirk form Pro Football Focus' No. 3-graded wide receiver duo through the first three games – the Eagles' tandem of Swole Batman (A.J. Brown) and Skinny Batman (DeVonta Smith) is second. Jones has a team-high 19 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown this season.
Wednesday
Did Not Practice
• WR A.J. Brown – Did not practice due to a personal matter.
• G Landon Dickerson – Dickerson was questionable for last Sunday's win with a foot injury. It is unknown if it is the same ailment.
• RB Boston Scott – Scott is on the injury report with a rib injury.
• CB Darius Slay – The NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2 was held out of practice with a back injury.
Limited Participation
• DT Fletcher Cox – Rest for the veteran, who had an outstanding game against the Commanders.
• DE Brandon Graham – The reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week also rested.
• T Lane Johnson – Johnson's streak of not allowing a sack since Week 11 of 2020 remains intact. He also rested on Wednesday.
• C Jason Kelce – Sense a theme with the veterans.
• RB Miles Sanders – Sanders was limited with a hip injury.
• G Isaac Seumalo – Rest for the starting right guard.
• WR DeVonta Smith – Limited with a back injury, possibly from wearing the Batman cape on Sunday?
• DE Josh Sweat – Sweat rested on Wednesday.
• DT Milton Williams – Williams was limited with a knee injury.
Jaguars Injury Report
Coming off of the 38-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Jaguars are healthy early in the week of prep ahead of the showdown with the Eagles.
Did Not Practice
• OL Cole Van Lanen – The reserve offensive lineman was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Limited Participation
• CB Shaquill Griffin – Griffin was questionable ahead of last Sunday's game with a hip injury and did not play.
