Matthews Striving For Excellence Down The Stretch
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Jordan Matthews knows he has been getting his share of opportunities t catch the football. His quarterback has been throwing plenty of passes.
Rookie Carson Wentz is nearing a record pace for pass attempts by a first-year signal caller. As the Eagles continue to struggle with their running game, Wentz will likely be throwing plenty more passes over the final three games of the season. While the Eagles would like to have more balance in their attack, Matthews has been impressed with the way Wentz has handled the extra workload this season.
"He's been throwing like crazy," Matthews said. "What helps with that is efficiency. It's completing passes on third downs so he doesn't have to make long throws. It's a whole lot of things that we continue to work on, but it's a young group and I'm excited about it."
While Matthews may be excited about the progress of his quarterback, there will be no playoff excitement for the Eagles next month. Eight losses in ten games have left the Eagles all but mathematically eliminated from the post-season picture. Despite the Eagles' place in the standings, Matthews is still hoping to put together several impressive performances over the next three games.
"They want to see progress early on," said Matthews. "At the same time, we want to go out there and have some big games. We want to be able to have some hundred-yard games. We've been on the cusp of really breaking through."
Matthews has also been dealing with a health issue. He missed the Eagles game in Cincinnati thanks to an ankle sprain suffered in the previous game against Green Bay. Matthews says he will be on the field for the final three games of the season, but Head Coach Doug Pederson has been cautious working with Matthews in practice.
"It's still a process," said Matthews. "Coach Pederson has definitely been working with me and helping me out as far as practice so I can get to the game. I appreciate him and the quarterbacks. Everybody's been patient with me while I'm out there saying 'let's get the most out of these reps.' "
Matthews has been the Eagles most dependable wide receiver in a year in which the skill players on the roster have heard their share of criticism. Matthews has 65 catches for 765 yards and has become one of Wentz's top targets. Matthews will likely finish the season with impressive numbers, but it is the number of close losses by the Eagles which still haunt the wide receiver as the season draws to a close.
"I understand games aren't going to be perfect," Matthews said. "But there were a couple of games where we literally said 'here you go.' Those are the ones that you really just can't have. Discipline has to come into effect and that's something that everyone has to as a man look at themselves. and say 'what am I going to do to fix this.? "
