In Carson Wentz's first drive of 2018, the offense wasted no time in executing the game plan: spread the ball out to the tight ends.
Wentz found Zach Ertz for 17 yards over the middle for his first completion of the season. He then found Joshua Perkins for 10 yards, Ertz for 7- and 8-yard receptions, and finally Dallas Goedert for a 13-yard touchdown.
There were completed passes to all three tight ends, and the offense made it look easy. In a game where the Eagles missed plenty of key offensive weapons, the tight ends filled the void.
"We've talked about it the last couple weeks. We had the potential to do it, and this week, with Mike Wallace going down last week, it was kind of more of an implemented thing," Goedert told reporters after the game. "We knew we were going to start in it and it was early on in the week, so we knew what was coming. We were able to prepare for it, and I think we executed it really well."
Wallace, wide receiver Mack Hollins, and tight end Richard Rodgers are all on Injured Reserve, and Alshon Jeffery remains out as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. In addition, other offensive weapons like running backs Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles sat out Sunday due to injury.
So, the tight ends were used prominently and interchangeably, sometimes with all three on the field at once. Goedert and Ertz led all receivers with 73 yards apiece, Goedert on seven receptions and Ertz on five. Perkins added a catch for 10 yards and was used often as a blocker.
"It gives us kind of an advantage sometimes," said Perkins on the Eagles' three-tight end sets. "If they come out in nickel, we can run the ball a little more. If they come out in different sets, we can spread them out and do different things, so it just gives us a lot of variety on offense to have three tight ends that can be interchanged like that."
Head coach Doug Pederson told reporters after the game that with the size and ability of the team's three tight ends, having them out there as much as possible presented a personnel advantage.
"Teams want to play a base defense," Pederson said. "They eventually went to nickel defense. We still had some success doing that. Then we began to run the ball. Just bigger people, athletic people on the field. It really worked for us on the opening drive and we just wanted to get the quarterback in a rhythm too with that."
Goedert's 13-yard strike on the opening drive was Wentz's only touchdown pass of the day, and it was the first NFL touchdown of Goedert's career. It came following two weeks in which Goedert had just one reception for 4 yards in two games despite high expectations from an impressive preseason.
Goedert said the touchdown was fun, especially at home, but it wasn't something he needed to get out of the way. He didn't let his lack of production weigh on him going into Week 3.
"I never know when my number is going to be called, but I'm always going to be ready," Goedert said. "Today we used tight ends a lot. Depending on the week, it might change. But it was fun being out there a lot, glad I can do whatever I can to help the team win."
Ertz said it was big for Goedert to have a big day against the Colts and that he was happy for him. Ertz knows that having two dynamic tight ends on the field will only make his job easier.
"I've pretty much played in the same spot for the previous two years that Doug (Pederson) has been here," Ertz said. "And so the ability to get me in different positions and the defense doesn't know where I'm going to be pre-snap could be huge for us and huge for the offense. And hopefully, I can make plays when my number is called."
The Eagles will hopefully be able to add more of the pieces they missed on Sunday back into their offense in the coming week, so there is less of a reliance on the tight ends for production. The tight end trio, however, is prepared for whatever change comes and just enjoyed the role they played in the win against the Colts.
"It's really fun because I get to spend a lot of time out there with Zach and Perk," Goedert said. "It's fun to be out on the field with them, communicating with them, we like to pride ourselves on execution and things like that so it's fun to have them out there. ... I'm sure next week it might change and we might not go with as many tight ends but no matter what we do, I'm going to be ready when my number is called and I'll give everything I can."
Check out all of the best photos from Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts on September 23, 2018.
TE Dallas Goedert (right) celebrates his TD with QB Carson Wentz (center) and TE Josh Perkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
S Rodney McLeod
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
P Cameron Johnston and K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
WR Kamar Aiken
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
TE Dallas Goedert celebrates with QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
CB Ronald Darby and DE Michael Bennett
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018.
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
CB Sidney Jones
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
LBs Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham combine for a tackle
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Josh Sweat
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
2018 Eagles Hall of Famer Clyde Simmons
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
2018 Eagles Hall of Famer Seth Joyner
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
CB Jalen Mills
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Assistant head coach/running backs Duce Staley
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
CB Jalen Mills
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Brandon Graham makes sure Colts QB Andrew Luck has been sacked
RB Wendell Smallwood scores a touchdown
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Derek Barnett gets to Colts QB Andrew Luck
DE Brandon Graham celebrates
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RBs Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz
CB Avonte Maddox and WR Jordan Matthews
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Derek Barnett gets to Colts QB Andrew Luck
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Derek Barnett and LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
OT Jason Peters (left) and C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
DE Chris Long with Colts DE Jabaal Sheard
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews with Colts WR Chester Rogers
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018
