Why Dallas Goedert Is Primed for a Big Game
Over the past weekend, star wide receiver A.J. Brown began feeling tightness in his hamstring. In a seemingly precautionary move, the Eagles are ruling Brown out vs. the Falcons. Although his absence will be felt, Philadelphia has other weapons to be relied on. With Brown on the sideline for Monday Night Football, there is a key weapon to keep an eye on in particular. Tight end Dallas Goedert could be set for a big game in Week Two.
In the 2023 season, Goedert finished with 592 receiving yards, falling relatively lower than his previous two seasons. With that being said, the veteran tight end is always a threat for yards after the catch, as Goedert is more elusive than most at his position. With Brown out, that makes Goedert the second option for tonight’s game behind wide receiver DeVonta Smith. For Goedert, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is sure to have him in a majority of snaps, with some packages being designed specifically for Goedert. An area where Goedert could excel more is in the red zone. From 2022-2023, Goedert has scored only three touchdowns in each season. Against Atlanta tonight, there are sure to be opportunities for him to find the end zone. Another red zone threat throughout the season would make the Eagles’ offense even more lethal. Goedert can look to find soft spots in Atlanta’s secondary, hopefully taking advantage of the middle of the field when the opportunity presents itself. Also, Goedert could be expected to convert many third-down situations, recognizing how important tight ends can be in drawing mismatches. In many cases, quarterback Jalen Hurts’ comfortability can be tested with Goedert, as tonight is a pivotal test for the franchise quarterback as well.
It will be intriguing to see how Philadelphia can adapt to a game plan not centered around wide receiver A.J. Brown. Luckily, having weapons like running back Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert makes decisions like this a little easier. In his career, Goedert’s career high for yards in one game is 135. He has eclipsed over 100 yards in five games throughout his career. If there was ever an opportunity for Goedert, Week Two is set for one of the best games Goedert can have this season.
