Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins: 'I’m not here to rebuild. That's Howie's job'

Don't talk to Malcolm Jenkins about next season. The Eagles are 5-6 and have slim playoff hopes, but it's enough that the veterans on the Eagles refuse to consider the ramifications of rebuilding.

"I'm not here to rebuild. That's Howie's job," Jenkins said, referencing Eagles executive Howie Roseman. "We're here to play and to win. Everybody in this building has been paid and compensated not just to occupy a seat but to win. And so our mindset is that we're trying to win with the guys we have here, the people we have in the building now. We'll let the people upstairs figure out if we're building or what we're doing past this time."

Coach Doug Pederson said the next five games would show who wants to be here next season. Pederson indicated that comment was made to make sure the players still play hard the rest of the season. But there was also talk from the coach about the plan the Eagles have for "down the road" – an outlook that does not include a number of players in the locker room.

Jenkins is one of those who will likely be in Philadelphia. He turns 29 next month and is under contract through 2020. But some other veterans might not be with the Eagles for the "down the road." The Eagles have already started six rookies this year, although Pederson has not made any lineup changes this week to play rookies. For instance, Leodis McKelvin will still split time with Jalen Mills at cornerback, and Stefen Wisniewski will still start over Isaac Seumalo at guard.

"I think we're fully committed," Jenkins said. "Until we're completely out of it, we're giving everything we've got until we're pushed to the postseason. I think obviously we know we have to win and probably need a little bit of help. But we've still got a shot. So all our resources and time is being put into winning."

zberman@phillynews.com

@ZBerm