The knock-on Miles Sanders coming out of college was that he could be a liability in the passing game, but after five weeks in the NFL, it’s his pass-catching that has the Eagles beyond excited.
JJ Arcega-Whiteside was supposed to be the Eagles rookie producing so much havoc on opposing defenses, but Sanders has more than proved his worth as a pass-catcher, providing the Birds with their only glimpses of big-play potential over the past few weeks. Sanders may have lost ground to Jordan Howard on first and second downs, but when it comes to passing and third down, the former Penn State star is firmly entrenched as the Eagles’ biggest weapon when it has mattered most recently.
A matchup nightmare for opposing running backs, Sanders scored the first touchdown of his career on a 32-yard seam-pass from quarterback Carson Wentz in the second quarter of the Eagles’ Week 6 loss to the Vikings.
Sanders wasn’t done, hauling in a 45-yard strike with Anthony Barr trailing him, to set up another Eagles touchdown. Sanders led the Eagles with 86 receiving yards and has accounted for all five of the Eagles’ longest pass plays in DeSean Jackson’s absence.
Sanders had 32 receptions during his entire career at Penn State and could amass that many catches for the Eagles before the bye week if he continues at this rate.
Sanders entered Sunday with 10 catches for 133 yards, logged 36-yard catch against the Jets last week, and he had two catches for 73 yards in the Eagles Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions as well. The running back may be losing ground when it comes to the ratio of carries between him and Jordan Howard, but he’s definitely emerged as the Eagles’ most explosive weapon through six weeks.
