Philadelphia Eagles: Appreciate Jason Kelce while you still can

When Jason Kelce left the game in Week 12 with an apparent knee injury, it took the air out of an incredibly hyped divisional bout.

On the field, the downgrade was obvious. Nate Herbig recorded twice as many penalties in a little under six minutes of on-field action as Kelce had all season long, including one that nullified a Boston Scott touchdown, and was a far less effective mover of men in the trenches, but that wasn’t the only aspect of the game the Eagles sorely missed without their center.

You see, Kelce is the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s the team’s second-most tenured player, the team’s oldest player, and the only person I can think of to put on a Mummers uniform and give a rousing yet NSFW speech on the Art Museum’s steps; outside of probably a Mummer, of course.

While Kelce eventually returned to the field and swiftly helped to re-establish the run with a 100 yard third quarter on the ground, it came at a cost. Kelce was limited for the Eagles at practice on Wednesday, and out on Thursday, with his status very much up in the air for the team’s second-straight trip to MetLife.

Will Jason Kelce ultimately play? Considering he hasn’t missed a game since 2014, I would venture to say yes, he will, but it’s clear that Travis‘ older brother has far more games with the Philadelphia Eagles in the rearview than the future, with his time in midnight green potentially over as soon as 2022. Friends, enjoy number 62 while you still can.

Appreciate Jason Kelce while you still can, Philadelphia Eagles fans.

If Jason Kelce ultimately does continue his 123 game starting streak versus the New York Jets, he will be tied with Trent Cole for the 12th most games with the Philadelphia Eagles in franchise history.

His 154 total appearances rank third among centers behind only “Concrete Charlie” Chuck Bednarik and Guy Morriss and fifth overall among offensive linemen with the additions of Tra Thomas and Jerry Sisemore. While Kelce doesn’t rank first among active Eagles players, as Brandon Graham has a full seven-game head start thanks in part to being drafted a full year earlier, he’s one of only four members of the team with at least 100 games in a midnight green uniform under his belt, the other two being Fletcher Cox with 152 and Lane Johnson at 108.

Fun fact: Of those four players, Kelce is the only one drafted outside of the first round. That’s pretty cool.

To make things all the more impressive, Kelce isn’t just an old grizzled vet who is earning snaps based on experience or name recognition. No, Kelce remains one of the best zone-blocking offensive linemen, regardless of specific position in the NFL, with an otherworldly ability to pull as a lead blocker and open up holes between the tackles. Sure, Kelce will have the occasional botched snap, but he’s far more likely to make a play that makes one say “wow,” and shake their head that a 295 pound 34-year-old can move like a man 100 pounds lighter and 10 years younger.

Heck, if you want to really go down the offensive line rabbit hole, read up on Kelce’s time as a High School running/fullback here; his path to the NFL is even more unlikely than his draft pedigree would suggest.

Off the field, Kelce has captured the hearts and admiration of Philly fans within the confines of the City of Brotherly Love and beyond. He’s inspired beers, shirts, facial hairstyles. He’s served drinks down da shore to help raise money for charity, shown up at former teammate Connor Barwin’s charity concerts, shown up on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and gave one heck of an expletive-riddled speech that will live on forever in Philly lore, in addition to scores of other stories big and small that will far outlive his playing career.

Will it be hard to replace Kelce on the field once he’s gone? Most definitely. While the Eagles have invested heavily in the interior of their offensive line, with Isaac Seumalo, Landon Dickerson, and Nate Herbig all having an ability to play on the interior, none of those players can directly replace 62, not one-for-one anyway.

But that, my friends, isn’t where Kelce will be missed most of all. No, the collegiate Bearcat has embraced the City of Brotherly Love like few others and has come to personify both the attitude of the Philadelphia Eagles and the city they call home.

So the next time Jason Kelce takes the field for the Philadelphia Eagles, be that Week 13 or otherwise, take a moment to appreciate his presence, as eventually, the only time you’ll see a number 62 jersey in at the Linc is either in the parking lot, in the stands, or hanging from the rafters for the rest of time… or, at least until the stadium is leveled for something new.