Eagles cornerback C.J. Smith showing staying power
LAST SPRING, when the Eagles signed C.J. Smith, an undrafted cornerback who was Carson Wentz's teammate at North Dakota State, it seemed an interesting footnote. Maybe Wentz, the quarterback the Eagles drafted second overall, wanted a familiar face to hang around with during OTAs, or something.
LAST SPRING, when the Eagles signed C.J. Smith, an undrafted cornerback who was Carson Wentz's teammate at North Dakota State, it seemed an interesting footnote. Maybe Wentz, the quarterback the Eagles drafted second overall, wanted a familiar face to hang around with during OTAs, or something.
But there Smith was Saturday night in Indianapolis playing at least a little with the Eagles' starters in the third preseason game. Overall, he played 37 snaps against the Colts, and looked pretty good. He's looked good all preseason.
The Eagles cut eight players Sunday, stashed two on injured reserve, and Smith remained on the roster. Then Monday, they waived/injured former CFL corner Aaron Grymes, who had seemed a decent bet to make the team before he suffered an AC sprain in the Pittsburgh game. Smith's status: still here.
"You try to expect a lot out of yourself," Smith said, when asked if he is surprised to not be back in Fargo by now. "I played a lot of 'man' in college; I think they like my 'man' skills."
Smith said coaches "gave me a little heads up" about playing with the first team Saturday, though he "didn't get too many reps in practice with the 'ones.' "
"I think they just wanted to see if I could handle getting thrown into the fire in that situation," he said. "I think I did all right, but I think I have a lot of things I can improve on. The game was a little faster" than his previous preseason action, with deep subs.
Smith and Wentz watched the end of the Bison's 24-17 season opener over Charleston Southern together, after the Eagles played Saturday.
"We were right outside the stadium, outside the buses. Carson had it pulled up on his phone; I couldn't get it pulled up on mine," Smith said.
Smith (5-11, 189) said he had a workout with the Eagles when they were on campus to look at Wentz.
"I didn't really think too much of it," said Smith, who said only a few other teams expressed interest, after he needed knee surgery the spring of his senior year and then got off to a slow start in 2015, missing the season opener.
Smith said he feels his biggest challenge, going into the preseason finale, is trusting his instincts. "Not playing timid, playing hard."
Rent-a-runner
Fifth-round rookie Wendell Smallwood suffered a concussion against the Colts. The Eagles don't want to risk injury to Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, or probably even to Kenjon Barner when they wrap up the preseason Thursday against the Jets. The only other running back on the roster coming out of the weekend was undrafted rookie Byron Marshall.
So, Cedric O'Neal, the undrafted rookie the Birds released Aug. 21, found himself on a 5:45 a.m. flight out of Valdosta, Ga., Monday morning, connecting through Atlanta, to make it back in time for practice. Most likely, his reprieve will last only until the Eagles cut down to the regular-season limit of 53, which has to happen by Saturday. But that's the NFL. O'Neal probably will get a bunch of carries against the Jets, which equals game film and exposure to teams that might pick him up.
"It's always valuable . . . I'm so happy for the opportunity I've got right now. I'm going to take full advantage of it," O'Neal said, after reclaiming his spot in the temporary stalls rolled into the center of the locker room. "At the very least, I can show other teams the way I play."
Wiz wit'?
Doug Pederson several times has seemed to hint that third-round rookie Isaac Seumalo has the edge as the starting left guard. The way Pederson has handled the wideout position - cutting vets in favor of youth - would also seem to point to Seumalo.
But veteran Stefen Wisniewski played well at left guard Saturday against the Colts, with Seumalo sidelined because of a pec strain. Did he do well enough to change the coach's mind?
Pederson said Monday that Wisniewski "looked great" and "filled in wonderfully." He said a decision on a regular-season starter would come next week.
"I really felt it was open, even a while ago. And I still think it's open now. I'm going to keep preparing that way," Wisniewski said Monday. "I'm hoping to be the starter there Week 1."
How'd he feel in his first action with the starters?
"There were a few footwork things that weren't quite the way I'd like them to be. I have some things to clean up. But the more reps I get there, the better I'll feel about that," Wisniewski said.
Birdseed
Right tackle Lane Johnson, who found out he was in danger of being suspended by the NFL when his "A" sample tested positive for PEDs on July 30, said he still has heard nothing about the "B" sample or the suspension . . . Wideout Jordan Matthews (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis. He won't play in the preseason finale Thursday but should be OK for the Sept. 11 season opener . . . Doug Pederson said linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who played deep into the fourth quarter at Indianapolis, probably will see some work Thursday against the Jets, because of all the time he missed while his hamstring healed. Ditto fellow linebacker Stephen Tulloch, who joined the team last week, and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who arrived two weeks ago. Carson Wentz, as you might have heard by now, won't play . . . . The Eagles worked out two Philadelphia Soul players, wideout Darius Reynolds and defensive lineman Jake Metz, signing the latter late in the day. Metz, of Souderton High, was the Arena League's Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the league in sacks (8.0) during the regular season.
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