Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor responds to the public humiliation by Eagles fans when he was booed for a costly drop in Week 17.
Booing their own receiver might seem like the most Philly thing ever, but Eagles fans seem to be justified when it comes to criticizing Jalen Reagor.
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Even though the 23-year-old celebrated a win and a playoff slot on Jan. 2, it wasn’t thanks to his contributions. Reagor was booed by fans when he dropped a 25-yard pass that would have brought the Eagles to the red zone.
Thankfully, Philadelphia scored a field goal to secure its edge, then an interception to effectively end the game. Reagor ended the game with zero catches and one run for -3 yards. If anything, he made it harder for the Eagles to win, but Reagor isn’t letting public disapproval get under his skin.
“I know who I am,” Reagor told media on Wednesday. “I’m not here by accident.”
Reagor, who was the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2020, has been critiqued for not having the same returns as first-round receivers like Jaylen Waddle, Ja’Marr Chase, and his own rookie teammate, DeVonta Smith.
Jalen Reagor remains positive in the face of adversity — and booing Philly fans
Frustration with Jalen Reagor has been simmering since last season, when the first-round pick became notorious for making drops in key moments. For example, if Reagor had made just one of these end zone targets in their Nov. 28 loss to the New York Giants, the Eagles could be competing with the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East title this weekend.
While Reagor is confident about his position in Philadelphia, some Eagles fans are adamant that Reagor could avoid the booing if he simply played harder.
To be fair, Eagles fans do cheer Reagor on when he does make those critical catches. A little over a year ago, the same fans at the same stadium were cheering wildly for Reagor after a successful return.
If the Eagles didn’t spend two consecutive first-round picks on wide receivers — or if the Eagles drafted Justin Jefferson instead of Reagor — the conversation surrounding Reagor would be different. Teams are reluctant to give up on first-round picks, which sometimes allows draft busts to remain on the roster despite concerning deficiencies in their game.
Just as Philly fans seem to distrust Reagor, so will quarterback Jalen Hurts if the young wideout can’t secure game-changing targets. But for now, the upbeat Reagor still has at least a few more weeks to prove that his place in Philadelphia is no accident.