Going Gray

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni often emphasizes the importance of players owning their roles, however big or small.

With that, he’ll typically acknowledge that while not everyone’s role is the same, each is critical to the team’s success.

Take seldom-mentioned practice squad wide receiver Danny Gray, for instance.

A 2022 third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, Gray’s blistering long speed was widely expected to put the rhythmic, timing-based 49ers passing offense over the top, providing another vertical element.

By now, the SMU product was supposed to be among the league’s ample crop of rising stars at his position.

Looking back, Gray is now armed with perspective, reflecting that as a young player, rife with confidence and bullish on making an early impact, he acknowledged he could’ve handled the process better and waited his turn.

He also spent the entirety of his sophomore campaign on Injured Reserve after suffering an AC joint injury in the preseason.

But Gray learned that he should never wave the white flag and hang his head due to an unfavorable outcome.

While that same confidence that typically comes with the wide receiver position is still very much a part of his DNA, Gray weighed multiple opportunities after the 49ers cut him loose in late August before deciding on a fresh start with a conference opponent.

“Just because it didn’t work out there, hey, maybe [Philadelphia] will be different,” he said, reflecting on his mindset. “I know what I bring to the table. I know my talent.  I know the speed that I have.  I’m just waiting to showcase that.”

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles practice squad WR Danny Gray, a former 49ers third-round pick, helps Eagles CBs prepare during the week.

At least for now, Gray’s impact is relegated to the NovaCare Complex practice field, where he undertakes a prominent scout team role every week.

Often, his duties include studying the style and tendencies of an opponent. Gray is typically tasked with emulating the top receiver the Eagles are playing against that week – for example, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell or Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

And Gray didn’t mince words when asked why he’s been selected to wear that hat.

“Because my talent,” he said, grinning. “I’m gonna throw this out there right now … if I was here at the beginning of camp, it would have been a no-brainer I’m on the 53. I’m gonna tell you that right now.

“Like, not with arrogance, but because I know what I bring to the table. I know how hard I work. And I know I stand out in whatever I do. I know what I bring. So, yeah, if I was here earlier, there’s no doubt.”

Beginning every Tuesday, usually the team’s off day, Gray will begin watching film of whichever receiver he’s expected to imitate that week.

If he likes something the player did on a specific route, he’ll make note of it and implement it during a practice rep. He’ll also fixate on some of the finer details, such as blocking.

How does the receiver block? Is he, as Gray puts it, “aggressive or kind of laid-back?”

“So what I do,” Gray continued, “Whoever I’m imitating that week, I’m gonna try to get a little of his game and mix a little bit of mine in there, so I’m not just giving [the defender] straight my looks.

“So, I try to give him some of the looks that they might be going against – some of the releases and stuff like that, just to get them comfortable with their game. Because when he watches their film, he’ll say, ‘Oh, yeah. Danny did that release. He showed me that release before. At least he did it in full speed.’ So, I try to help my guys out like that during the week.”

And to aid his own development and grasp of the Eagles’ offense, Gray will also spend time separately honing in on cornerbacks and defensive film.

Some tape study from the previous week of his fellow Eagles wide receivers also helps Gray learn the offense, specifically with motion and alignment.

While Gray hasn’t traveled to road games – making him out of sight, out of mind to most who follow the team – the third-year wide receiver has watched  his handiwork from afar, as the Eagles secondary has held players like Chase to 54 yards on nine catches, or Atwell to 30 yards on three catches.

And prior to leaving last Sunday’s game with a knee injury, Bateman was completely blanked on the stat sheet.

Sure, the primary credit goes to the defense, but some of the preparation can be directly attributed to those reps on the practice field when Gray provided identical looks that translated into game day.

His impact, while not quantified in the box score, isn’t lost on his teammates who routinely inform him how he helped them prepare.

The Bengals game – a 37-17 Eagles blowout in Week 8 – really stood out. Chase was held to 54 yards, his second-lowest receiving total of the year.

“He’s fast,” Eagles rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean said. “Real fast guy down the field. Challenges you down the field, and then when you run short routes, he does it so fast that you’ve got to be able to stop on a dime against him.

“But he’s given us a lot of great looks throughout the weeks that he’s been here, which is good. I think it’s helped our defense a lot. Just how fast he is, how he can get down the field, he can get across the field. And he’s quick, too, at the line when you’re trying to press – which is something that I’ve needed to work on. Press with those quicker guys who can move quickly at the line of scrimmage. So he’s helped a lot.”

Eagles defensive backs afford Gray the freedom to go out and do his thing, rather than communicate their preference of a specific or perfect route.

Everything in practice is matched up, with the scout team wideouts adorning the numbers and pinnies of those they are imitating based on body type.

Gray takes the practice field and pushes the limit in what’s been his version of game days, ripping off a succession of eye-opening practices and sometimes getting the better of the first-team defensive backs on deep routes, according to teammates.

And on those occasions, Gray isn’t one to retreat to the huddle quietly.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, smirking. “You gonna feel that. You gonna feel me. That’s anybody, though. Anybody, it don’t matter who it is. You gonna feel me. If I make a play, you gonna feel me.”

Of the cornerbacks who typically give Gray the best work in practice, veteran Isaiah Rodgers was the name that came up in a previous conversation due to Rodgers’ suddenness and foot speed.

But in a conversation weeks later, Gray offered a different name. Standing apart was a certain rookie who has blanketed every receiver he’s gone against this season.

“Q,” Gray said of first-round corner Quinyon Mitchell. “I love Q. Q [gives] great work. He’s young, he’s physical, got good movement, good hips on him. We need my dawg to get up in them picks, so we need him to catch them picks so he could become an All Pro. Right now, man, he’s a great corner. And I would love to watch him in the future.”

Mitchell has already vaulted to the NFL’s elite as his position, exhibiting savviness, patience, plaster coverage and a short memory.

But even Mitchell was quick to acknowledge that Gray’s weekly contributions have correlated to game scenarios.

“Man, since he’s been here, he’s just getting us right,” Mitchell siad. “Every day he comes into work and stuff like that. I feel like he gives us great looks that helps us go on and compete in the game. ”

Right now, Gray has embraced his contributions and can play freely, having fun in his new role and doing his part to create positive energy.

As the temperatures in the northeast dwindle, the practices can become daunting, especially when wearing pads.

But Gray prides himself on creating a certain energy that remains upbeat, aiding in taking the mind off of circumstances and focusing on the work at hand. That workmanlike approach, he said, can be directly attributed to his two-year stint at Blinn College in Texas, which shaped his mindset.

“My JUCO mindset is really what got me to the league,” Gray said. “You know, just staying down, waiting your turn and just taking advantage of every opportunity that you get.

“That’s my mindset with anything that I do. I take my losses how I take ’em, and hey, my wins is my wins. So, I just really show up every day and try to outwork everybody.”

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