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By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports
Jalen Reagor began his sophomore season in the NFL with a new career-high Sunday for the victorious Philadelphia Eagles.
Reagor ultimately pulled in a 22-yard touchdown from second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts with 4:20 to play in the Eagles’ 32-6 win against the Atlanta Falcons.
“Of course, it’s good [to score], but, I mean, it’s ultimately what I am trying to build on,” Reagor told the media. “What I’m focusing on is to be consistent and not just doing it in spurts.”
He added, “It does give you a good feeling, but I wouldn’t say that it completely takes the pressure off. Because, again, it’s about consistency.”
The fourth-quarter touchdown set a new career-high in receptions (6) for Reagor, a 2017 Waxahachie graduate. It also helped Hurts, a former quarterback for the Universities of Alabama and Oklahoma, set a new career-high in touchdown passes (3).
During a media session on Wednesday following the win, Reagor noted his excitement in the new Philadelphia offense. The Eagles are now under the leadership of first-year head coach Nick Sirianni, who formerly served as the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.
Reagor explained that the game plan is to now “get us the ball in space” — which is quite the welcomed idea for a receiver with the yards-after-catch potential that he possesses.
“It’s like new life,” Reagor said. “That’s what I feel like. That’s what I’m preaching. Just positive and having a different outlook on things.
“[…] You just gotta look at the best in things because every game is not going to be what you want it to be,” he continued. “You just gotta look at the best in every situation. That’s what I feel like I’m focusing on, having a clear soul, clear mind and just going into every week excited and grateful to be here in the position I am.”
Reagor ultimately matched DeVonta Smith — a rookie wide receiver from the University of Alabama. Smith won the Heisman Trophy this past season — during the win against the Falcons.
Reagor was the 21st pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, while Smith was selected tenth overall in 2021.
Reagor caught 31 passes for 396 yards and one touchdown during a rookie season that saw the Philadelphia offense behind now-Colt Carson Wentz.
He also returned four punts for 94 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown against Green Bay on Dec. 6, 2020. That punt return marked the longest by an Eagle rookie since Damaris Johnson took one 98 yards to the house against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 2, 2012.
Oddly enough, Reagor’s first career touchdown came in a win against the Cowboys on Nov. 1, 2020. He currently boasts a career-long 55-yard reception recorded against The Washington Football Team on Sept. 13, 2020.
Reagor missed five games during his rookie season with a thumb injury.
As of Thursday, Reagor was not listed on the Eagles’ week two injury report.
Reagor and the (1-0) Eagles will face the (1-0) San Francisco 49ers at noon Sunday. The game is currently slated to air live locally on FOX 4.
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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith
tsmith@kbec.com
