Eagles' rookies step up on defense

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Two weeks ago, it looked like the one and only member of the Eagles' 2015 draft class with any shot to make an impact this season was going to be their first-round pick, wide receiver Nelson Agholor.

Cornerback Eric Rowe, their second-round pick, struggled in the preseason and opened the season buried deep on the depth chart. His only action in Weeks 1 and 2 came on special teams. That didn't figure to change.

Same with their third-round pick, inside linebacker Jordan Hicks, whose chances of getting many defensive snaps behind Mychal Kendricks, Kiko Alonso and DeMeco Ryans seemed somewhere between slim and none.

The rest of their draft already was kaput. One of their two sixth-round cornerbacks, JaCorey Shepherd, is on injured reserve with a knee injury. The other, Randall Evans, is on the practice squad. Seventh-round defensive end Brian Mihalik was released.

But injuries can change things in an instant and create opportunities where, a moment before, there didn't seem to be any.

In last week's loss to the Cowboys, both Kendricks and Alonso went down with injuries. Kendricks injured a hamstring. Alonso reinjured a knee.

Suddenly, Hicks was next man up. He ended up playing 54 snaps against Dallas alongside Ryans and held his own.

Yesterday, the rookie from the University of Texas did more than hold his own. He played every defensive snap in the Eagles' 24-17 win over the New York Jets.

He recovered a boneheaded, second-quarter fumble by Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall that the offense turned into a touchdown and a 24-0 lead.

He intercepted a batted pass in the fourth quarter that killed a potential Jets scoring drive. And he helped hold the Jets to 2.9 yards per carry with a team-high 10 tackles.

"I expected to spend this season playing on special teams," Hicks said after the game. "It's a rare opportunity (learning) behind players like DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks and Kiko Alonso. That's a really good linebacking corps. But when it's your opportunity, you've got to step up.

"I've learned a lot since OTAs. Since coming here in the spring, I've learned a lot from these guys. They've helped me understand what this defense is all about. They've helped me be ready in case I had to go in."

Rowe got his opportunity yesterday after safety Chris Maragos left the game in the first half with a knee contusion.

Rowe was used as the sixth defensive back in the dime package and had an interception and a big pass breakup on a pair of deep balls from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to rookie wide receiver Devin Smith.

On a third-and-10 play near midfield early in the third quarter, Fitzpatrick went after Rowe with a deep pass to Smith. But Rowe had excellent coverage on the receiver and broke up the pass, forcing a punt.

On the Jets' very next possession, Fitzpatrick again tried to go deep to Smith on a third-and-5 at the Eagles' 30. This time, Rowe did more than break it up. He turned and made the interception in the end zone.

"It wasn't anything different than what I do in practice,'' Rowe said. "I just worked on my technique. I was really focused in. After that first PBU (pass breakup), I was like, OK, I already kind of know what to (expect). He's kind of a one-step-and-go guy. He tried to use speed to beat me.

"I heard the 'ball' (in the air) call from the sideline. I just looked and I leaned and saw the ball and said, 'I'm going to try and go up for it.' It fell in my hands."

You probably have heard this before, but football is a game of attrition. Injuries are going to happen, even to teams with an army of sports scientists.

The teams that are going to still be standing in late January are the ones that are able to weather the injuries, that have players who can step in and help carry the load.

"Hicks had a great game today," linebacker Connor Barwin said. "E-Rowe had a great game. That's what good teams do. They draft good young players and those players come in and play."

They did yesterday. Hicks almost certainly will start again next Sunday against the Redskins. Alonso isn't coming back any time soon, if at all. Kendricks probably will miss at least a couple more games, maybe more, with his hamstring injury.

Making matters worse, Ryans, who is coming off a ruptured Achilles' tendon, injured his groin in the second half and wasn't on the field much in the fourth quarter. He limped out of the locker room after the game.

"It's happening real fast," Hicks said. "It's been a fast two weeks. Huge. I believe everything is supposed to happen for a reason. I approach everything the same: with everything I've got.

"Whatever happens, happens. I've just gone out there and tried to play loose, tried to play with a lot of passion and have a lot of fun. If I do that things will work out.

"I'm going to still keep pushing, keep working hard. It's still early in the season. We've got a long ways to go."

The Eagles forced four turnovers: the interceptions by Hicks and Rowe, the fumble recovery by Hicks when Marshall foolishly tried to pitch the ball to a teammate as he was being tackled following a catch, and a SportsCenter-highlight interception by safety Walter Thurmond in the fourth quarter on a pass that went off Marshall's hands.

Marshall finished with 10 catches, but averaged just 10.9 yards per catch as the Eagles' secondary made sure to keep him and the rest of the Jets' receivers in front of them.

"The first thing (we needed to do) was stop the run," said Thurmond, after the Eagles held the Jets to 2.9 yards per carry. "The next was limiting Marshall's catches and not allowing him or anyone else to get over the top of our defense. And I think we were able to do that today."

With a little help from rookies Hicks and Rowe.

"Jordan's a great football player," Thurmond said. "He's very smart. I saw his ability back in OTAs. I didn't realize at first that he was a rookie because of how smart he was and how fluid he was at linebacker. It showed today (with him) getting a fumble recovery and an interception.

"He played a very solid football game. Eric Rowe as well. When Maragos got hurt, he came in knowing that he was going to get tested and that they were going to go after him. And he was able to stand up and make two great plays for us."

On Twitter: @Pdomo

Blog: ph.ly/Eagletarian.com