It’s probably not the way Hassan Ridgeway expected his coming out party to be, but with Malik Jackson and Timmy Jernigan out for the foreseeable future, the Eagles need the young defensive tackle to step up now. The Eagles have been ravaged by injury at the defensive tackle and wide receiver positions. Jackson is out for the season, and Jernigan is out multiple weeks with a broken foot. That leaves Ridgeway, and the recently signed Akeem Spence to play alongside Fletcher Cox.
Ridgeway will start for the Eagles against the Lions, after being acquired Ridgeway on draft weekend from the Indianapolis Colts for a seventh-round pick. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle is a menacing prospect who should help clog up the middle for the Eagles run defense.
The former Texas Longhorns defensive tackle has the potential to make plays when given a defined role, and with Fletcher Cox playing the role of a star pass rusher, it’ll be imperative for Ridgeway to clog up the middle, eat up blockers and allow his brethren to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
After playing only 65 defensive snaps last season, Ridgeway has already played 54 snaps after two games. He’ll be called upon to do even more on Sunday, and with the Eagles choosing to not sign a defensive tackle, it’s a signal that Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson are confident in the Texas native holding his own next to Cox, Derek Barnett, and Brandon Graham.
Ridgeway will be on the field, playing a huge role for the Eagles and if he can help contain Kerryon Johnson and company, then he’ll go a long way towards solidifying a spot on this roster for the foreseeable future.
