The Case for Jason Peters
On Monday morning, Jason Peters was activated from the team’s injured reserve list. Essentially meaning that he is healthy enough to get back on the field and contribute for the Eagles.
How long will he be healthy?
It honestly could be one play or it could be the rest of the year but that question can wait because the looming question is, what do you do with Jason Peters?
When the Eagles resigned Jason Peters in August, the plan was for the future Hall of Famer to replace injured RG Brandon Brooks and play next to Lane Johnson. However, when Andre Dillard went down with a bicep injury in an abbreviated camp, the natural idea was to slide Peters back to left tackle where he became the future Hall of Famer he is. Wrong. Peters asked for more money to move over to left tackle and was adamant that he would only play guard at his current pay. The Eagles eventually caved, giving Peters an extra $5 million in incentives to play left tackle and start the year against Washington.
It was very clear early in the game against the Football Team that Peters is not at the Hall of Fame level he has been at his entire time in Philadelphia, which is understandable the man is 38 years old. To make matters worse, the day before the Eagles were scheduled to take on the 49ers, Peters was added to the IR with a toe injury. The Eagles, decimated at offensive line, turned to the former Australian rugby player, Jordan Mailata to protect the blind side of Carson Wentz.
Now, by no means has Jordan Mailata been an All-Pro in his time as the Eagles starting offensive tackle, but he has played pretty well in absence of Jason Peters so far this season. In 293 offensive snaps played this year, Mailata has held his own on the left side of the line, only giving up three sacks and (most importantly) playing 100% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps since his first career start in Week 4 at San Francisco. Up until this point, the 2018 7th rounder seemed like an experiment that was failing, after Peters took the left tackle position just before the start of the year it appeared to the outside as though Mailata did not have what it took to play left tackle at the NFL level. Thankfully, that is not the case.
With more reps, Mailata is only getting better, he is athletic enough to play tackle and as time goes on he is becoming football smart enough to play left tackle as well.
Part of the emergence of Mailata should be credited to Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles offensive line coach who has added to his incredible resume by taking a bunch of misfits on the offensive line and adding them to Jason Kelce to at least give the offense a chance of being successful.
Another big part of the success of Mailata should be credited to Jason Peters, who has been coaching Mailata up since camp and since his injury. Even though he struggled last week against the Giants, Mailata has proved he can play LT in the NFL.
Which brings us back to the main question, what do the Eagles do with Jason Peters?
In my opinion, Mailata has to play LT. He has been just as good if not better than Peters was before the injury and at this point in his career, Peters’ injuries may keep stacking up. However, Jason Peters is still too good to have on the bench on Sundays if he is healthy. The Eagles have had a revolving door at both guard positions this year and it is time to see if the Peters to guard experiment, the reason the Eagles brought him back, is going to work. It also provides a great opportunity to further Mailata’s process. Putting Jason Peters on the field right next to him at the left guard can provide firm protection on the left side for Wentz and it can give Peters the ability to help Mailata on the field if needed.
Jason Peters at 38 is not the Hall of Fame left tackle that he will be remembered for, but he can still be a very valuable piece to this Eagles’ offensive front. He should never play left tackle again for the Eagles (barring injury) but he should absolutely be the team’s starting left guard. Even just his wealth of football experience makes him a better option than Sua Opeta or Nate Herbig even though they have played hard at the guard positions. It may be a big if, but if Peters can stay healthy and Mailata can continue to improve each week at left tackle, the Eagles may be set on the left side of the line for the 2020 division race.
To be clear this is NOT a case for Jason Peters to be the Eagles starting left tackle, this is a case for the Eagles to give him a chance to play left guard right next to Jordan Mailata. Jason Peters has a chance to be productive this season and squander some animosity Eagles fans have had towards him due to injuries and asking for a pay raise after the Dillard injury.
Let’s just hope Peters can stay healthy and the Eagles give him and Mailata a chance to coexist.
Oh, by the way, HAPPY DALLAS WEEK!
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