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Jordan Matthews was a 'go' at Eagles practice and a 'no' on contract talks

The receiver rejected the notion that his contract situation had anything to do with his absence at earlier camps.

Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews during OTAs May 23.
Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews during OTAs May 23.Read moreCLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer

Jordan Matthews was one of three Eagles to take the practice field over 20 minutes before the first full-squad practice of training camp. Nearly three hours later, after he caught about 50 more passes from the JUGS machines, the wide receiver was one of the last three to call it a day.

Waiting for Matthews were about 25 media members looking for clarification about the nebulous knee injury that kept him out of most of spring workouts. Coach Doug Pederson had said Monday that the injury would limit the receiver at the start of camp.

It did not. Matthews was a full participant on Thursday.

[Eagles' passing game: Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery taking a long look]

He hustled as always and entertained many questions afterward, as usual. But the Matthews who used to run out every catch even after it was whistled dead wasn't as spry. The interviewee who is normally as candid as any player declined to go into detail about the injury that the Eagles have labeled "tendinitis."

"I hate putting a specific word on it because then people say, 'Oh, well, I played with that before,'" Matthews said. "Trust me, if I could be out here and play, I would be out here playing. … That should never be a question about me when it comes to this game."

And yet that hasn't stopped public criticism about the severity of his injury or speculation that Matthews didn't practice during organized team activities and minicamp in May and June because he was distracted by his contract situation.

"I would never literally do that," Matthews said. "If you [reporters] know me from the time that I've been here, I go to work. This is a privilege to be able to play football regardless, whether it's the Philadelphia Eagles vs. anybody.

"To play in the NFL — I've always wanted to do this. … I would never sit out to try and force somebody's hand."

Matthews, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Eagles don't typically allow the homegrown talent they want to keep enter their fourth season without an extension. Last offseason, for example, they reworked contracts for tackle Lane Johnson and tight end Zach Ertz.

But there have been times when the Eagles have retained players before they reached free agency (such as defensive ends Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry). And there have been players, whether they were drafted by the Eagles or acquired off the market, who have preferred to play out the final year or sign one-year contracts."

If you really think about it, it's a big year for all of us," said Matthews, who has declined to say if there have been negotiations. "It's a big year for a lot of guys. We've got some guys on one-year contracts that are big-time players."

Matthews noted that fellow receiver Alshon Jeffery is on a one-year deal, as is running back LeGarrette Blount. But neither of those players was drafted by the Eagles. The Bears, of course, didn't consider Jeffery indispensable enough to outbid the Eagles. Each case is subjective.

"I think things change by the year depending upon what our team's salary cap looks like," Matthews said. "There's so many things that go into it, I basically say this: If you go out there and make plays, you'll get paid."

But will Matthews get as many opportunities to make plays as he did in the past? From 2015-16, he led the Eagles in targeted passes. But the offseason additions, most prominently Jeffery and receiver Torrey Smith on the outside, suggest that Matthews could see fewer passes from his slot position.

"Having both these guys here will obviously increase competition," Matthews said.

But it's not just the veterans Matthews that will compete with for Carson Wentz's attention. Tight end Zach Ertz has had almost as many targeted passes over the last two seasons and last year he led the team in receptions for the first time. Receiver Nelson Agholor filled in for Matthews during his absence and had his best spring.

Running backs Darren Sproles and rookie Donnel Pumphrey have been lining up in the slot on various plays since May. And rookie Mack Hollins has raised eyebrows with his early performance.

But Matthews should not be underestimated. He averaged 75 catches for 891 yards and six touchdowns in his first three seasons. He has missed only two games to injury. And he's the unquestioned leader of the receivers.

He's also one of Wentz's closest friends on the team. It was backup quarterback Nick Foles who was on the other end of the deep "touchdown" pass that Matthews outjumped a defender for on Thursday, but the starter was keenly aware of what it meant.

"I think he looked good," Wentz said of Matthews. "Obviously you saw him make that big play, big catch in the end zone. I think he looked like the same old Jordan Matthews."

But is he 100 percent? Matthews said he was, but he also conceded that the knee has been an issue for some time. He wouldn't speculate if it was related to the injury he suffered last camp when cornerback Jalen Mills hit him low during a full-contact period.

"It's been a long time that it was bothering me," Matthews said. "Anybody's who's had an injury understands that you start working one side or the other and then before I know it, the ankle happened."

The Eagles privately didn't think he would be healthy in time for the opener after the Mills collision, but he played nonetheless. It wasn't until December that Matthews missed his first NFL game with an ankle injury. But the knee seemed to have been the source.

Matthews said he considered offseason surgery but opted for "the natural route." But, again, was the injury more than tendinitis and is he still ailing?

"If I'm out here playing," Matthews said, "don't worry about it."