Eagles' Nelson Agholor looks impressive in first glimpse

EXPECTATIONS loom for Nelson Agholor, coming into an Eagles wideout corps that saw DeSean Jackson jettisoned in 2014, then said goodbye to Jeremy Maclin this spring.

Agholor, the team's first-round rookie, drafted 20th overall, is expected to join second-year talents Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff, plus holdover Riley Cooper and presumably veteran free-agent signee Miles Austin in the remade, Chip Kelly-era receivers group.

Agholor will be measured against Matthews' rookie year, of 67 catches for 872 yards and eight touchdowns, which was only the No. 2 rookie receiving year in franchise history (behind Keith Jackson in catches, DeSean Jackson in yards and Calvin Williams in receiving TDs).

Reporters yesterday got their first onfield glimpse of Agholor, who attended the NFL's rookie premiere event during last week's media availability. His outing was as reassuring as short-pants work can be. Agholor looked smooth, strong and capable.

Agholor said afterward that Matthews is "like a brother already," and Matthews upped the ante on that by asserting they were "like twins."

Both receivers stayed on the field after the group was dismissed, as part of a small cadre of receivers and defensive backs who ran more patterns.

"We've worked on release work, and we've just talked ball," Agholor said. "Trying to pick [safety Malcolm] Jenkins' brain, because, obviously, Jenkins is a vet, and he's seen a lot of ball. So we kind of get an idea of how things work, and how he's thinking."

"We've got a nice, young group of guys," Matthews said. "The talent jumps off the board with Nelson; the dude's one of the most explosive guys on the team already. His work ethic speaks for itself. I think we're real compatible. I love spending time with the guy, not just here, but outside of football. Great personality. I know the city's going to love him."

Huff, who sat out yesterday after suffering what he described as a minor hip bruise last week, said Agholor "loves to play football, wants to improve in every aspect of the game."

"We've been working our butts off, coming in early in the morning, catching extra balls and getting extra film work," Huff said. "That's a young guy that you want on your team . . . runs good routes, has great releases."

Agholor went up against Jaylen Watkins, both players leaping to corral a Tim Tebow pass yesterday. Watkins won the battle.

"Double move, contested ball, great defense by Watkins," Agholor said. "Tim gave me an opportunity, and I've got to come down with it."

Agholor seemed clear-eyed about what he needs to do to contribute at the level expected.

"What I need to do is continue to adapt, and maybe adapt a little faster," he said.

The idea that he can more or less replace Maclin is "something I really can't concern myself with right now," Agholor said.

Reporters got their first chance to speak with cornerback Byron Maxwell yesterday about his guarantee of an Eagles Super Bowl appearance last week to Jenny Vrentas, of Sports Illustrated's Monday Morning Quarterback.

Maxwell said he hasn't gotten too much grief from teammates, though he said he was subjected to some joking from defensive backs coach Cory Undlin.

"It really wasn't a prediction. I saw it more as confidence in my teammates and what we could do, and what we should do," said Maxwell, who spent much of the MMQB interview talking about how the Eagles' culture reminds him of Seattle's. Maxwell and the Seahawks played in the last two Super Bowls, beating Denver and then getting edged by the Patriots.

"Every team has that goal, this early," Maxwell said. "We definitely have a winning culture here."

Wideout Jordan Matthews made a nice catch against Maxwell, but afterward Matthews instead talked about how great it was to have Maxwell on the Eagles, how the best corner he faced as a rookie was "easily No. 41 for the Seahawks."

Asked about Maxwell's Super Bowl prediction, Matthews said: "It starts with a thought . . . at the end of the day, we know what our goal is . . . I'm just glad we have a guy in the locker room who brings that type of exuberance and confidence, and experience in the playoffs and even in the Super Bowl . . . He's been nothing but great energy out here and in the locker room."

As promised, quarterback Sam Bradford made a handful of throws during seven-on-seven work. It was hard to tell much, and Bradford was not available to speak with reporters afterward, but seeing him on the field in more than individual drills was a step forward in his recovery from a torn ACL. Asked about working with Bradford, wideout Jordan Matthews smiled and said: "Sam Bradford looks really good. I'm not going to ruin the surprise, though, the kid can throw the ball" . . . Marcus Smith, the 2014 first-round linebacker, and third-year safety Earl Wolff again worked off to the side. Smith has a groin pull and Wolff is still recovering from November knee surgery . . . Walter Thurmond worked with the first team at safety.

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