Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Huntley’s hard work has paid off

The Philadelphia Eagles entered Week 18 with roughly 30 percent of their opening day roster either on IR or in COVID protocol.

Now granted, unlike the Dallas Cowboys, that didn’t affect the Birds’ Week 18 plans all that much, as Nick Sirianni and company opted to sit the vast majority of his starters for the meaningless contest but still, considering a playoff berth was already secured, sending double-digit players into COVID protocol was not ideal, to say the least.

Still, with all of those players out, many a not-quite-household name was afforded an opportunity to prove their worth versus most of the Cowboys’ starters with quite a few of those players committing quality play on tape.

One of those players was none other than Jason Huntley, the second-year rusher many a fan, pundit, and blogger – hey – has been banging on the table to see play all season long. And guess what? After turning in a quality one-two punch as both a return man and a rusher, the Philadelphia Eagles will get to see it again in Week 19, as the pride of New Mexico State has been elevated to the active roster in place of Tyree Jackson, who is headed to IR with a torn ACL.

Buckle up friends, this is going to be fun.

The Philadelphia Eagles finally have a great return man in Jason Huntley.

Jason Huntley is the Philadelphia Eagles’ best kick returner.

He became the team’s best kick returner when he was claimed off of waiver wires from the Detroit Lions, was the team’s best kick returner for the entirety of the 2020 season into the summer of 2021, and remained the team’ best kick returner through the 2021 NFL season, even if he was stuck on the practice squad and couldn’t show it.

Unfortunate? For Huntley, you bet, but like oh so many players before him, the New Mexico State rusher bided his time, worked on his game, and ultimately remained ready for an opportunity to showcase his skills.

That opportunity came in Week 18 and Huntley quite literally ran with it.

Pulling double duty as the team’s kick returner and second-string running back, Huntley led the team in rushing attempts at 13, was targeted once in the passing game, and logged three returns for 84 yards with a long of 35.

Huntley looked both smooth and explosive with the ball in his hands, which has been his style since all the way back with the Aggies from 2016-19, and gave the Eagles a speedy option in the open field that their running backs stable has lacked in 2021.

In terms of fifth-string running backs, you’ll seldom find one better than Huntley, who would probably be third on quite a few rosters across the NFL. Even if his chances of seeing the field as a rusher diminish considerably from a meaningless game versus the Dallas Cowboys’ starters to a bout against Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the season on the line, Huntley should unquestionably remain in the Eagles’ gameplan, as he’s a for more dynamic return man than Jalen Reagor, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, or any of the other options on the team’s roster.

After spending the vast majority of the regular season watching games from the sidelines in street clothes – including a Week 6 bout against the very same Tampa Bay Buccaneers- something tells me Huntley would happily take whatever opportunity is offered in what will be his first professional playoff game.

In the NFL, the best ability is availability. Because Tyree Jackson suffered an ACL injury in Week 18 that warranted a trip to IR, Jason Huntley was able to parlay his strong showing versus Dallas into a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles’ 53 man roster. While his exact role on Super Wildcard Weekend is up in the air, he’s at least invited to the party, which is more than he could say all season long.