As he leapt up for the game-winning touchdown, winning a pass in the air normally reserved for receivers 3-4 inches taller than him, it was hard to believe that it was former college quarterback Greg Ward coming down with the ball.
And the more you watch Greg Ward play, the harder it is to believe he spent so much time this season on the bench.
Ward has now been on the field for the Eagles for four games, and in three of those weeks, he has made a major impact. He caught six-of-seven passes thrown his way against Seattle. Against New York he caught four passes, had one great touchdown catch called back due to a bad holding call and was inches away from catching another.
Against Washington Sunday, Ward stepped up when the team needed him most.
With Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and DeSean Jacksons sidelined, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside nonexsistent, Ward was really the only receiver the Eagles had. He responded by catching seven of nine passes, for 61 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
The faith that Wentz has in Ward is obvious. Wentz has shown he has a tendency to throw to the guys he trusts most, and ignore the ones he doesn't. Not only did Wentz target Ward on the game-winning score, but he targeted him four times overall on the drive, and Ward came through each time with the catch.
In a season where the Eagles' coaching staff, especially offensive coordinator Mike Groh and receiver coach Carson Walch, have has come under plenty of heat, Ward's development is a major win for them.
Ward is a shining example of player development and a great job by the coaching staff of turning a practice squad player into a contributing player. Groh was Ward's first receiver coach, during the 2017 season. Since then, both Groh and Walch — and departed receiver coach Gunter Brewer — deserve credit for taking Ward from a college quarterback to a legit NFL receiver. Ward's hard work played a large role in the transformation as well, but the coaching staff deserves credit for the work they did to create a moment like Sunday.
The front office, however, dropped the ball with Ward.
This season, as the team has struggled at receiver each week, Ward didn't get on the field while guys like Mack Hollins and Joshua Perkins did. It wasn't like Ward was a secret. Players in the locker room have known all season Ward could play. In training camp, only one receiver (Jeffery) caught more passes and only one receiver (Jackson) had more touchdowns. Ward not playing is part of a larger issue for the front office, as they have pretty routinely shown that what is invested in a player — like draft picks, money, etc. — often matters more than how he is playing.
Although it took too long to happen, the good news for the Eagles is that Ward is now playing and the team's offense is better for it — and the coaching staff deserves credit for making it happen.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
