It’s been a long time since Eagles tackle Jason Peters has played in a football game.
Peters missed all of last season after tearing his Achilles twice in the offseason and then missed the first two preseason games this year because of a hamstring injury, which means he hasn’t done more than practice since 2011. That will change on Saturday, when Peters takes the field with the rest of the Eagles for their game against the Jaguars.
Peters has high hopes for the offense this season, saying that the unit has set a goal of allowing the fewest sacks in Eagles history. Allowing fewer than last year would be a good start and getting on the field Saturday will be a good way for Peters to start acclimating himself to the pace of an offense he thinks will knock opponents on their heels.
“I think they’re going to be shocked,” Peters said, via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “But as the year goes on, people are going to try to game-plan for it, get adjusted to it. But they’re going to be shocked the first couple weeks when we’re coming out quick, fast.”
With Peters, center Jason Kelce and right guard Todd Herremans healthy and rookie Lane Johnson at right tackle, the state of the Eagles line is much stronger than it was a year ago. That should result in a more effective offense, especially if Chip Kelly proves as ingenious at running an offense this level as he did in college.