Wentz Has a Familiar Target Back at Wide Receiver for the Eagles
Carson Wentz is getting some instant help at the wide receiver position in his first start back from injury this weekend. And not only that but its also one of his best friends.
The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed wide receiver Jordan Matthews on Wednesday (September 19th) to give Wentz a much needed extra target in their injury-depleted offense. Matthews was previously a second-round pick by the Eagles in 2014, before being traded away to the Buffalo Bills as part of the trade to acquire cornerback Ronald Darby prior to the 2017 season.
In the three seasons Matthews spent with the Eagles, he averaged 75 catches, 891 yards, and six touchdowns per season. One of those three seasons, was Carson Wentz's rookie season when Matthews was targeted a total of 117 times for 73 catches, 804 yards, and three touchdowns.
Wentz and Matthews became close friends during their season as teammates. Matthews was even a groomsman in Wentz's wedding over this past summer. Wentz celebrated the move to re-acquire Matthews on Twitter while displaying their personalized handshake:
When Matthews was traded, Wentz posted a heartfelt goodbye to his close friend on Instagram:
The move to reunite the two on offense couldn't come at a better time for the Eagles who have become snake-bitten with injury on offense. At wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery is still recovering from offseason rotator-cuff surgery, Mike Wallace was recently put on injured reserve after getting hurt last weekend in Tampa Bay, and Mack Hollins is already on injured reserve with a groin injury.
Matthews will join the only other healthy mainstay at wide receiver on the Eagles offense, Nelson Agholor.
Wentz has at least one more solid option to throw to this week when the Eagles host Indianapolis at noon on Sunday.