5 Philadelphia Eagles that need to step up until Alshon Jeffery returns

1. Shelton Gibson

Heading into the preseason, the Eagles had a few players worth monitoring to compete for the No. 5 spot on the roster at receiver since the top four spots already seemed to be a lock, including Hollins. Right away, Shelton Gibson made a strong case thanks to impressive performances against the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, making it seem like an easy decision for Philadelphia with roster cuts.

Now that Jeffery is going to be sidelined longer than Philadelphia was hoping for, this provides Gibson another opportunity to show he was worth keeping around after a disappointing rookie campaign in 2017 that consisted of just two catches in five games. The former West Virginia star was one of the biggest questions before training camp, and seeing him handle the pressure of coming through says a lot about Gibson as a player.

If Gibson’s preseason is any indication of what to expect in 2018, the Eagles could find themselves with another one of those under the radar players on offense at receiver. In a way, this is the opportunity Gibson has been waiting for, and as disappointing as it is to see Jeffery continue to be sidelined, at least there will be some excitement with the younger wideout seeing more action.