A year ago at this time, Greg Ward was languishing on the Eagles' practice squad, wondering whether NFL opportunity ever would knock on his door.
Three weeks later, it did, and the wide receiver has made the most of the chance he waited more than three years for.
Last year, he had 28 catches in six games and helped save the Eagles' season.
He had six catches in his first game. He had seven, including the game-winning touchdown, in a playoff-saving Week 15 win over Washington, and six in a division-clinching Week 17 win over the Giants.
This season, he's become an even more valuable part of the offense as the Eagles' slot receiver. The former University of Houston quarterback leads the team with 29 receptions, has become Carson Wentz's go-to guy on third down, and is a mentor for the Eagles' young wide receiver corps.
"Greg has been helpful to me in every aspect on and off the field," rookie receiver John Hightower said. "Without Greg, I definitely wouldn't be in the position I'm in today. So I tip my hat to him."
"The way he 's been helping some of these younger guys understand the game and get lined up, and just the communication that he brings and the mindset of a quarterback from having played the position in college, he understands the game differently," said Wentz. "He's done a great job of educating these guys and really helping the offense all-around. I can't say enough good things about Greg. He's a big piece of what we do offensively."
Ward is tied for ninth in the NFL with 11 third-down catches, nine of which have resulted in first downs.
While Boston Scott's 19-yard game-winning touchdown catch with 40 seconds to go last week was the most vivid memory of the Eagles' comeback over the Giants, it was Ward who made it a one-score game with 4 minutes, 38 seconds left when he caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Wentz.
"He's reliable," said Eagles radio analyst Mike Quick, a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver. "If you want to describe him in one word, that's the one. He's reliable.
"When the play is called, if it's zone (coverage), and he has to fit into a specific window, he's there. (If it's man coverage), he knows how to lean on a guy and get away from him. He just knows how to play the position. His experience as a quarterback really helps him to see things better at that position. He sees what's going on with the defense."
Ward had a 70.0 catch rate last year. Eighteen of his 28 receptions resulted in first downs. This year, he has a 72.5 catch rate. He's tied with Travis Fulgham for the team lead with three touchdown catches.
The Eagles have struggled on third down the last couple of games. They converted just 3-of-12 third-down opportunities against Baltimore two weeks ago and were 3-for-12 last week against the Giants.
Two of those three third-down conversions last week came on Wentz passes to Ward: a 14-yard completion on a third-and-10 on a drive that resulted in a Jake Elliott field goal, and an 11-yard catch on a third-and-1 late in the third quarter.
"Consistency," Ward said when asked for the key to being a dependable third-down receiver. "Just trying to be an open target for the quarterback. Get open as fast as possible, because on third down, defenses like to do crazy things like bringing blitzes and all this other stuff. So my main focus is playing fast and getting open and making the play whenever the ball comes to me."
Aaron Moorehead, the Eagles' first-year wide receivers coach, wasn't with the team last year when Ward was promoted from the practice squad and became one of the keys to their late-season resurrection. But it didn't take him long to gain an appreciation for Ward's play as well as his leadership ability in the wide receivers room.
"Greg has been a stable piece of this offense since I got here," Moorehead said. "I know that's been a short time. I know his time here playing has been a short time. But you would never guess that. He's just a mature guy that understands football, understands spots, understands leverages.
"I think that when you look at Greg's body of work, he's been a guy that Carson can rely on in tough spots. Especially with Zach (Ertz) being out and Dallas (Goedert) being out, guys have to step up and be that safety net for Carson, and I think Greg's providing that right now and really has the entire season."
Ward has played in only14 NFL regular-season games. At 25, he's really not that much older than the rest of the Eagles' young receiving corps, which includes the 24-year-old Hightower, the 21-year-old Jalen Reagor, and Fulgham, who is just two months younger than Ward.
Nevertheless, he has become the guy the others go to with questions. He has become the guy the others follow and respect.
"He's been a quarterback, and I think that helps," Quick said. "They know that he understands the offense and the little things you have to do in this offense that are going to make a difference. I remember early in my career, I always had somebody like that. Somebody like a Greg Ward that could tell you little things that you didn't see or that I didn't quite understand yet.
"You need people like Greg Ward in your room who can help you to see the things you can't see."
Said Moorehead: "Greg does things the right way. He's a guy that, when guys in the room have questions, they ask him, and that's good. That's what a leader should be."
