3 Studs and 2 Duds from the Eagles’ Week 2 Win Over Vikings
4. DUD: Mario Goodrich
2022 undrafted free agent Mario Goodrich didn’t see the field as a rookie, and he played his first NFL regular season snaps when Avonte Maddox went down in the first half.
Let’s just say we better hope Maddox gets healthy quick.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins to TE TJ Hockenson for the first TD.
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) September 15, 2023
Vikings up 7-3 on Eagles. pic.twitter.com/7V73kbO8ja
The Vikings immediately decided to go after Goodrich, and they totally exposed him. He just looked completely outmatched any time he was in 1-on-1 coverage, and everyone on the other side of the field knew it.
I’m not going to fault the guy — getting your first ever reps on a short week against a sneaky-good passing offense is a brutal spot. And he’s clearly still developing. But yikes.
The #Vikings are picking on Mario Goodrich tonight.
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) September 15, 2023
Last two plays he was in coverage -- and Avonte Maddox is injured.#Eagles
If Maddox is out for any extended period of time this may have to be a 2022 playoffs type situation where we find someone other than the backup slot corner to replace Maddox.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson might not be an option this year, and Sydney Brown’s versatility doesn’t help much when he doesn’t look ready to get on the field, but maybe Justin Evans or Terrell Edmunds can move into the slot?
Otherwise we might need to try moving one of the other young perimeter corners or resort to signing a free agent.
It was very clear tonight that Goodrich is not ready, and starting him for any extended period of time would be a major liability.