Eagles WR Jordan Matthews: The game slowed down against the Patriots
By Jack Crosby
The first preseason game for Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Jordan Matthews did not go as well as everyone would have liked, however he was one of the most dynamic players on the field Friday night in the team’s second game of the preseason against the New England Patriots. When it was all said and done, the former Vanderbilt star finished with nine catches for 104 yards.
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When asked after the game why he was so much better his second time out, Matthews readily admitted that the game had slowed down for him, and he was trying to do too much in the opener against the Bears.
“First preseason game, seemed kind of fast, it slowed down. It’s going to be the same way in the regular season, and then as we go on,” Matthews said. “Going into this game, I said I’m going to do my job and make the plays that need to be made. Don’t try to be a world beater, just do what you gotta do.”
While some were worried, even after just one preseason game, that Matthews would eventually end up with the “bust” label, head coach Chip Kelly assured everyone that the Matthews we saw on Friday night is the real deal.
“He was a little over-excited playing in his first NFL football game against Chicago, and the Jordan that we’ve seen in practices is the Jordan that you kind of saw today,” Kelly said after the game. “I think he had nine targets, nine catches. He did a good job with the run after the catch. It’s the same thing that we’ve seen when we’ve been at our training sessions at the NovaCare is what we finally saw tonight. He’s just such an emotional guy and plays at such a high level that I think he was probably just ramped up a little bit too [much] in the Chicago game, so I’m glad with what we saw tonight.”
If Matthews can consistently be anywhere near the version of himself that we saw on Friday night, then very few people will remember who DeSean Jackson is as time goes on.