Ignore The Box Score

PHILADELPHIA — Forty-five minutes into the Eagles’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers, franchise luminary Jason Kelce took to the “X” platform to make a pointed observation.

Given the gritty and selfless nature of the role referred to in the legend’s  social media post, one could easily imagine the former Eagles center beaming with pride as he typed out the nine-word text.

It read: “Johnny Wilson blocking his ass off on the perimeter.”

Wilson, the Eagles’ sixth-round wide receiver, logged just 10 snaps in his NFL debut and didn’t factor into the box score, but his impact was noticeable to those delving beneath the surface.

The 6-foot-6, 228-pound wideout used his frame and physicality to complement the Eagles’ offense as a blocker, sealing the boundary and clearing a path to spring teammates for extra yards.

The Florida State product, just ahead of the two-minute warning, even saw his first career target. Running a comeback route along the right sideline on a 2nd-and-8, Wilson recognized a scramble drill and adjusted on the fly, turning upfield.

But in guarding against a potentially dangerous throw, quarterback Jalen Hurts instead opted to sail the pass safely out of bounds.

GETTY IMAGES: Johnny Wilson’s impact against the Packers wasn’t seen in the box score but was significant.

That Wilson was part of Hurts’ progression was notable in itself, although the duo had established an apparent rapport early in training camp prior to Wilson being sidelined with a concussion.

But it was Wilson’s blocking that turned heads.

And it wasn’t only Kelce who took notice.

“Johnny did an awesome job, fired up,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said Wednesday. “There’s a bunch of highlight blocks in there. He took advantage of his 10 or so snaps. He’s got a role for us.

“Obviously, it’ll evolve as we go week in and week out from a run game perspective. In the pass game, he’ll come alive as we go, and we’re really excited about him.”

Wilson, with whom Hurts had clearly drawn an affinity, presumably stemming from their throwing sessions during the offseason, appeared to be thinking less and playing faster as camp progressed.

He saw plenty of first-team reps alongside starters A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, aligning inside and outside, and it seemed the team had a distinct vision with how Wilson fit into the offensive plans.

Then, sometime prior to the Eagles’ second preseason game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Wilson suffered a concussion, which was revealed shortly ahead of kickoff.

Taking into account the delicate nature of a head injury, recovery timelines are often varied.

For Wilson, he missed a little more than two weeks, returning to practice Sept. 1.

While the injury might have temporarily halted his on-field momentum, Wilson resorted to other ways to maintain his progression and remain engaged.

“Didn’t have that many physical reps, so getting those mental reps and really holding myself accountable and not letting myself get behind,” Wilson said of his focus when sidelined.

“I did have a concussion, but I knew what it was gonna be when I came back. Just knew I had to stay in my playbook so I could just do my job.”

Even in light of his encouraging summer and expectedly growing role, Wilson is realistic.

On an offense that boasts headliners such as Brown, Smith, running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert, opportunities for others will be limited.

When his number was called, it was likely he’d have to impact the game without being ball-centric.

And while Wilson, given his build, would appear to be a natural in terms of the blocking aspect, the 23-year-old admitted it was something he needed to work on, before simplistically boiling it down to will and want-to.

His objective, a mantra he uttered on multiple occasions, is simple: Be the hammer, not the nail.

“I’ve always just been big on, ‘Don’t let my man make the play,'” he added.

Executing those critical blocking assignments as a rangy wideout sporting a hulking frame is easier said than done, however.

It requires detail and nuance, drilling the particulars and logging reps. For Wilson, to master the art of blocking, he first needed to hone in on the unique specifics for a player of his build.

“Being tall, just making sure I have good pad level,” Wilson explained. “Sink my hips and just being able to embrace contact sometimes. You get to the league, you can’t block until the ball is caught some plays, so learn how to embrace contact and just keep running my feet. Honestly, once you’ve been the nail, you always try to be the hammer.”

Even in a cameo, Wilson made his presence felt without compiling a single statistic.

His undertaking of the often-thankless role of freeing up teammates and doing the dirty work — a position in previous years held by Eagles wide receivers Zach Pascal and Olamide Zaccheaus – and the presumed impact it will have in terms of offensive efficiency, warrants the same level of attention that Kelce and Moore showed.

And even if his role is reduced to a complementary piece, for Wilson it’s solely about executing his assignment, whatever it is, to the best of his ability

“In my position, I just know, opportunities are gonna be limited,” he said. “But when I do get in there, the opportunity counts. Every play counts, no matter what it is – a block, anything. You never know what your job or responsibility could spring.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.