Philadelphia Eagles: 5 players who need to step up in Reagor’s absence

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 17: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during training camp at NovaCare Complex on August 17, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Yong Kim-Pool/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 17: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during training camp at NovaCare Complex on August 17, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Yong Kim-Pool/Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – AUGUST 31: Wide Receiver John Hightower #16 of the Boise State Broncos during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 31, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. Boise State defeated Florida State 36 to 31. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – AUGUST 31: Wide Receiver John Hightower #16 of the Boise State Broncos during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 31, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. Boise State defeated Florida State 36 to 31. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

John Hightower, WR

On the other end of the spectrum, fellow rookie WR John Hightower is now being thrusted into a role where Doug Pederson is going to be expecting him to contribute sooner rather than later.

The Eagles fifth-round pick during the 2020 draft, Hightower has had a really good training camp thus far. A 6-2 speedster who made a living for himself running streaks at Boise State, Hightower has been a frequent appearer on reporters’ training camp notes as someone who has impressed early on.

Like previously mentioned, the Eagles were expecting Reagor to account for a majority of the offense’s big plays this year, especially with the assumption that DJax won’t be available each and every week. With the former TCU WR now out of the picture for the foreseeable future, some of that burden is likely set to fall on Hightower.

Hightower has the size, speed, and experience (24 years old) to start games on the outside, and he could very well be thrusted into that role as soon as Week 1. His elite speed could replicate Reagor’s ability to stretch the field, and his training camp dominance has left some pondering if he truly does have starting-level potential in the NFL.

It looks like Philadelphia Eagles fans are about to find out what Hightower is truly made of sooner rather than later.