Shoulder Injury To Sideline 1st-Round Pick Reagor Several Weeks

The Eagles’ first-round pick will be sidelined several weeks with a shoulder injury, although the team might have dodged a bullet that the injury isn’t more severe.

An MRI on the left shoulder of rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor revealed a slight tear in his labrum, sources told Inside The Birds, which is expected to sideline the 20th overall pick from April for about four weeks, which means Reagor will likely miss the Sept. 13 season opener against the Washington Football Team.

The team is still awaiting results of a second opinion, a source added, but the initial word is that Reagor won’t need surgery.

Reagor exited Sunday’s scrimmage less than an hour into practice at Lincoln Financial Field when he suffered the injury making a tackle after a Jalen Hurts interception. He left the field holding his wrist and immediately went inside for more examination.

Reagor, who’s been impressive in camp, was expected to be a starter when the season begins. He’s been practicing at the “X” position — or split end. If he’s not ready by the opener, the Eagles could go with second-year pro J.J. Arcega-Whiteside at the X.

Arcega-Whiteside, a 2019 second-round pick, has showed improvement in his second camp after a disappointing and injury marred rookie season.

The Eagles could also use surprising rookie fifth-round pick John Hightower at the X. The Boise State product, who caught a long touchdown in Sunday’s scrimmage, has showed promising consistency in camp, working at several different receiver positions.

Hightower clocked a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, impressive speed that’s been on display throughout camp. Arcega-Whiteside doesn’t play with tremendous speed like Hightower and Reagor do but has the strength to fight off press coverage at the X position and was known in college for making contested catches and threatening defenses in the red zone.

The Eagles have several first-round picks sidelined, including quarterback Carson Wentz, who sat out Sunday’s scrimmage with what’s been described as a minor lower-body issues, and Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson, who’s been out for more than a week with what the team has called a lower-body injury.

The team lost second-year pro Andre Dillard, a 2019 first-round pick, for the season last week after Dillard tore his biceps.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the Inside the Birds podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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