Isaiah Rodgers Can Fill the Eagles With Regret
The Philadelphia Eagles should already be full of regret for letting Isaiah Rodgers leave the building at the end of last season, and the Vikings’ cornerback can show them firsthand the error they made this Sunday at US Bank Stadium.
VikingsTerritory looks at how Isaiah Rodgers can fill the Philadelphia Eagles with regret this Sunday when they head to Minnesota to face the Vikings.
Rodgers had enjoyed a great start to his career in Minnesota, highlighted by his Defensive Player of the Week award for his Week 3 performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he earned the first-ever perfect grade of 99.9 from Pro Football Focus and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns. Rodgers has been a revelation at cornerback for the Vikings, a position that was a cause for concern about who would partner with Byron Murphy on the outside. That is no longer a worry in Minnesota.
It’s a Revenge Game for Isaiah Rodgers against the Eagles
The same can’t be said in Philadelphia, where Quinyon Mitchell limped out of the game with the Giants last week with a hamstring injury.
The Eagles overhauled their secondary during the offseason, when key players like Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, James Bradberry, and Rodgers left the team. There was an emphasis on getting younger and building around Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Reed Blankenship in the secondary. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman decided to go with cheaper options instead of re-signing Rodgers, bringing in Adoree’ Jackson to compete with Kelee Ringo for the role of CB2.
While Rodgers has thrived in Minnesota, Jackson and Ringo have been inconsistent, with both receiving starts but not making a major claim to secure the role. Depending on the severity of Mitchell’s injury, the Eagles may be facing the prospect of having to rely on both Jackson and Ringo.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio appeared doubtful that Mitchell would play against Minnesota this week. Good news for the Vikings. If Rodgers keeps up his early-season standard this Sunday, those of an Eagles persuasion will be looking on longingly.
Rodgers’ Red Hot Start in Minnesota
Rodgers is making the Eagles rue not giving him a new contract. It seemed like Rodgers was the guy to step in after Slay had departed, having deputized him so well last season. Rodgers started three games in the regular season, played 10 or more snaps in a total of nine games, and was on the field for 92 snaps in the postseason, including 57 in the divisional round against the Rams when Slay left with a concussion.
It seemed an easy decision for the Eagles to make, but alas, no, and the Eagles’ loss has been the Vikings’ gain.
If the money were on the table, he would have undoubtedly stayed with the team he just won the Super Bowl with. Not many cornerbacks in the NFL right now are playing at the level of Rodgers, who signed a two-year contract worth up to $15 million with the Vikings this offseason.
That deal currently looks like one of the bargains of the season. Rodgers has been playing at such an elite level that he is likely to be an early candidate for the Pro Bowl, All-Pro, and possibly even Defensive Player of the Year if he delivers another performance like the one against the Bengals.
Through the first five games, the Vikings CB has amassed 19 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception (returned 87 yards for a touchdown), 2 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery (returned 67 yards for a touchdown).
PFF had Rodgers graded No. 5 (with a grade of 82.2) among the 107 cornerbacks that have played at least 105 snaps. Eagles fans must be thinking Rodgers sure would look good in an Eagles uniform right now, but it’s Vikings fans who are enjoying seeing him work.
Sunday would be a great time for Rodgers to have another great game and rub his former employers’ noses in it even further.
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