Why a rarely used Eagle was ready for the biggest moment of his NFL career

Why a rarely used Eagle was ready for the biggest moment of his NFL career originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

He didn’t play at all as a rookie with the Texans. Not a single snap. Never made it off the practice squad.

He got into three games last year with the Eagles but didn’t play a defensive snap until the end of the season finale against the Giants, after the outcome and the Eagles’ playoff position had long since been determined.

He finally got on the field earlier this year against the Buccaneers when Reed Blankenship had to leave the game with heat-related illness, but that was a blowout loss and nothing to celebrate.

So Sunday in Baltimore was a first for Tristin McCollum. His first meaningful snaps in an NFL win.

Safe to say he made the most of it.

“All of us rallied around him and told him, ‘We got you, we trust you, you’re an elite safety in our defense, go out there and just play the way you know how to,’” Eagles corner Isaiah Rodgers said.

Blankenship suffered a concussion with the Eagles clinging to a 14-12 lead with 2 ½ minutes left in the third quarter vs. the Ravens in Baltimore.

In crunch time of a huge showdown between two of the NFL’s best teams, McCollum got the call for the first extended high-leverage snaps of his NFL career.

“He’s just a really good athlete,” Nick Sirianni said. “Fast, physical. Then everyone here thought he had a great training camp, and it gave us a lot of confidence. He’s been a special teams contributor because of that athletic ability and his toughness.

Then (Sunday), he’s put into a situation where he has to go in and compete.”

McCollum was very good Sunday, with four solo tackles – only Zach Baun, Nakobe Dean and Cooper DeJean had more – in his 29 snaps. His 71.2 Pro Football Focus grade was 17th-highest of 86 safeties who played at least 20 snaps in Week 13.

But he turned in the play of his life with just over six minutes left and the Eagles up 24-12 when the Ravens went for it on…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-rarely-used-eagle-ready-151511270.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2024-12-05 15:15:00

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