Eagles Options to Replace Goedert: Julio Jones or Another TE?

Many on my social media timeline want to see more of tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, especially now, with Dallas Goedert rehabbing from surgery to repair a fractured forearm suffered on Nov. 5 in the Philadelphia Eagles win over the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s unclear exactly how long the Eagles will need to find the pieces of the puzzle that is Goedert’s absence.

With two days to go until Monday night’s titanic matchup between the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Goedert had yet to be placed on injured reserve. There’s a chance that he may avoid it because of last week’s bye, meaning he has four weeks to recover with only three games being played.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni gave a glimpse into the tight end’s status on Saturday morning.

“We have high hopes (for his return),” the head coach said. “There’s a reason he’s not on IR, yet.”

So, maybe Goedert returns for the rematch against the Cowboys in Dallas on Dec. 10, and avoids a trip to IR, though with Justin Evans having his 21-day practice window opened to return from IR, a roster spot will need to avail itself at some point.

“It’s never just one guy's responsibility to take all the brunt of that work,” said Sirianni. “It will be by committee. We just don't have another guy like Dallas Goedert sitting around.”

Everyone assumes the tight end targets and snaps will rise. That’s not necessarily the case.

Sirianni said the game plan will change week to week, and there are other ways to cover Goedert’s absence that doesn’t involve tight ends.

One could be Julio Jones, the team’s third receiver. It was last year’s third receiver, Quez Watkins, who picked up some of the slack when Goedert missed five games with a shoulder injury. 

Watkins, who is currently on IR and probably a longshot to return if the receiving corps stays healthy, had 18 catches for 128 during Goedert’s absence in 2022, with two of his three touchdowns on the season coming in that span.

“I do whatever is asked of me here,” said Jones. “Nobody is panicking. We have great players here. Whatever my role is what my role is. It’s football. It takes 11 guys to go out there and do what we do.

“For me, there’s nothing I can’t do, or I wouldn’t be playing the game of football right now, so for me, it’s however it comes out.”