Eagles Notes: LeSean McCoy: 'I am the same player'

LeSean McCoy appeared offended by the notion that he might not be the same player he was last year, when he led the NFL in rushing.

"Man, listen: I don't care what's out there," the Eagles running back told reporters Wednesday. "I'm not going to address, 'Am I the same player?' For what? What are we talking about, am I the same player? That's for you all to figure out. Are you crazy? Am I the same player? I am the same player."

McCoy, 26, has answered these types of questions seemingly each week. He had a four-game stretch in which he averaged more than 100 yards, but he also has had six games this year with fewer than 4 yards per carry.

McCoy has rushed for 729 yards and two touchdowns on 196 carries this season, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. In 2013, McCoy rushed 314 times for 1,607 yards and nine touchdowns, with 5.1 yards per carry.

McCoy has dealt with injuries on the offensive line and greater attention from defenses this season, although the dip in production is noticeable. He is on pace for 1,116 yards and three touchdowns.

"I've had to earn everything I get this year," McCoy said. "I don't think anything has changed. . . . No matter what the circumstance is or what's going on, I've learned that doesn't matter. All that matters . . . is what you're doing lately."

Chip Kelly said he had a "long talk" with Earl Wolff on Monday about the safety's knee injury. Wolff then spoke with the team's medical staff and underwent an MRI exam before the Eagles decided to shut him down for the season.

"Obviously, he wasn't making plays like he did before, so it had to be affecting him," the Eagles coach said.

Kelly said the decision to sign cornerback Roc Carmichael came because the Eagles needed another defensive back. They wanted help at nickel cornerback because rookie Jaylen Watkins is likely to help out at safety, a position he played a little at Florida. But Kelly emphasized that the Eagles still have two natural safeties as reserves: Chris Maragos and Chris Prosinski.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is 79 receiving yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark entering Sunday's game against Tennessee. Maclin averaged 863.3 receiving yards in the first four years of his career, but he never eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau.

"I've never really used that as a benchmark," Maclin said. "I know a lot of people do."

Maclin missed last season after knee surgery but has emerged as one of the NFL's top receivers. He would be the 12th player in franchise history to top 1,000 yards.

"It doesn't define what kind of player I am," Maclin said. "The only player I want to be is a reliable one. If I'm that guy, then the stats will come. There's a chance I might go over the benchmark this game. It might take longer than that. Who knows? My only job is to be reliable for my team."