Eagles 2018 first quarter report card: Offense

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A position-by-position examination of how the Eagles’ offense has fared four weeks into the 2018 NFL season.

Quarterbacks

Outstanding 
Everybody can breathe a sigh of relief, because Carson Wentz (66.7 CMP%, 6.9 Y/A, 3 TD, 1 INT, 93.2 RT) looks healthy as an ox. There’s no apparent drop-off in arm strength or velocity nine months removed from knee surgery, and minimal, if any, reduction to foot speed. He’s still laser accurate, can still buy time or escape the pocket and repeatedly walks away from collisions with 300-pound men.

Needs improvement 
The game might be a little fast for Wentz in the red zone right now. He’s completed 6 of 13 passes for 44 yards with two touchdowns, while the Eagles converted three of eight trips.

Satisfactory
It wasn’t pretty, but Nick Foles (65.9 CMP%, 5.2 Y/A, 1 TD, 1 INT, 78.9 RT) went 1-1 in two starts. The backup gets paid to keep the ship afloat — and he did exactly that.

Grade: B

Running backs

Satisfactory 
Five different backs recorded touches for the Eagles already. They have zero fumbles between them (excluding a desperation lateral during the final seconds of a loss) and only Darren Sproles — who’s played in just one game — averaged fewer than 4.1 yards per carry.

Satisfactory
Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Jay Ajayi are second, fourth and fifth on the team with 186, 175 and 170 yards from scrimmage. The trio combined for five touchdowns, including three by Ajayi. Lot of tough, physical running, despite injuries for Ajayi (back) and Clement (quad).

Needs improvement 
Pass protection.

Grade: A-

Wide receivers

At a loss for how to evaluate a group in which Kamar Aiken is getting significant snaps. Alshon Jeffery (8 REC, 105 YDS, 1 TD) was great in his first game back from injury, providing hope for the second quarter. Up to then, it was basically Nelson Agholor (25 REC, 167 YDS, 1 TD) against the world. The Eagles were simply decimated by injuries to Jeffery, Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins.

Grade: Incomplete

Tight ends

Outstanding 
Zach Ertz (31 REC, 327 YDS) is not only on pace for a career year, but he could also shatter the Eagles’ franchise record for receptions in a season.

Needs improvement 
Though his 66 percent catch-rate is on par with previous seasons, Ertz is tied for the NFL lead with three drops, per NBC Sports.

Satisfactory
You have to appreciate Dallas Goedert’s effort as a blocker. For whatever reason, the rookie needed a few weeks to crack the rotation, and though he hasn’t exactly been a sensation (10 REC, 90 YDS, 1 TD), he seems to be on the right track.

Grade: B

Offensive line

Needs improvement 
Way too much confusion versus blitzing and stunts. Not all protection issues fall on the offensive line, but it starts up front, and there were 30 quarterback hits in the Eagles’ last three games.

Needs improvement
Jason Peters and Jason Kelce can at least use nursing injuries to explain up-and-down performances in certain instances. Lane Johnson was beaten for sack-fumbles in consecutive weeks — what’s his excuse?

Outstanding
And yet, collectively, Eagles running backs are averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Tough to kill a unit that’s run-blocked this effectively.

Grade: B

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