The trade of All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers has impacted preparations for the Philadelphia Eagles as they get ready to host Dallas in the NFL season opener on Thursday night. The deal, which also sent three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark from Green Bay to Dallas, has led both teams to make adjustments.
Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata said, “It changes a lot. I’m gonna be honest with you, it changes a lot. Eleven (Parsons) is a great player and we always have protection plans built in for great players and now we just have to figure out the players that they have on their defense, how can we stop them?”
Tight end Dallas Goedert commented on the shift in focus for Philadelphia’s offense: “When Parsons is out there, you are always aware of where he is and you make sure that you have a plan for him. Now that he’s gone, they still have great players and they have a scheme that we haven’t seen, so we have to prepare for everything. It’s really about us being on our game and doing what we do.”
The Eagles saw Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson return to practice Sunday but his status for Thursday remains uncertain. As with many season openers, both teams are preparing for unknowns.
Center Cam Jurgens described the importance of focusing on execution against their division rival: “There isn’t any need for hype. This is the opener and it’s Dallas, a division rival. We just have to prepare and play the best football we can play. They’ve got good players up front. Tough guys. We played Clark twice last year and he’s tough. He’s a veteran and he’s strong, so we will see how they use him in their scheme. We’ll learn as the game goes along and we will have things built in in case we see them trying to do new things.
“It’s always a chess match. That’s the nature of football and that’s what makes it so much fun.”
Offensive lineman Tyler Steen discussed Clark’s presence: “He’s a big dude, real physical, powerful guy. He’s been in the league for a while and has the experience, so we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Steen said. “What is Dallas going to do with him? How does he fit in with that? What he’s doing in this game might be different than what he did in Green Bay. Dallas wants to confuse us and try to get us off our game, so we have to communicate well and play the way we play.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to us and executing what the coaches want us to execute.”
Head Coach Nick Sirianni emphasized sticking with team assignments amid speculation about changes brought by Parsons’ departure: “We’re getting ready to play the Cowboys, so he’s in your thoughts for gameplanning, but they still have guys that we have to prepare for,” Sirianni said. “They have Kenny Clark, who’s a really good player, and they have good depth at that defensive end group. You don’t get too wrapped up in that except for some of the things you’re doing with the game plan. But, also understanding that they have a lot of good players over there and getting ready for those guys and shifting your attention to that.”
The Eagles face uncertainty as both teams adjust strategies following significant roster moves ahead of their divisional matchup.
