The Eagles traded away a third-round pick for a 30-year-old receiver with just eight games left on his contract.
Then they didn’t play him.
At least the Eagles didn’t play Golden Tate much in his debut. Tate played just 18 snaps or 29 percent of the Eagles’ offensive plays.
That simply doesn’t make any sense. The Eagles made a move to bring this new weapon in and then had extra days to get him caught up because of the bye week. But they decided to bring him along slowly like the sky isn’t falling around them and the season isn’t beginning to circle the drain. They've already wasted an 1/8 of Tate's time with the team.
This is what Doug Pederson said after the game about Tate’s usage: “We had a certain number of plays for him and wanted to get him into the game and just get him some touches. … As we go, we'll continue to increase the things we do with him.”
That’s spoken like a coach who has the benefit of time. The Eagles don’t. That’s spoken like a coach whose team has built up a lead in its division. The Eagles haven’t. That’s spoken like a coach who doesn’t see the need for urgency. All the Eagles should have is urgency.
In those 18 snaps, Tate caught two passes for 19 yards. He also played five special teams snaps and had a 12-yard punt return.
NFL
Other offensive snap count notes
• Dallas Goedert and Corey Clement each played 18 snaps, just like Tate. They’re all a part of the “They Should Probably Play More” club.
• Wendell Smallwood (21 snaps) led the way for running backs, followed by Josh Adams (19) and Clement (18).
• Jordan Matthews started the game and played 37 snaps, while Zach Ertz didn’t leave the field, playing all 62.
• The entire OL and Carson Wentz played all 62 snaps. That included Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who started for Lane Johnson. This is just the second time all season the whole OL and QB played for every offensive snap (the other was against the Colts in Week 3).
Defensive snap count notes
• Tre Sullivan (22 snaps), Chandon Sullivan (19), T.Y. McGill (15) and Treyvon Hester (11), played a combined 67 snaps for four guys who either didn't start the season with the Eagles or haven't spent much time on the roster.
• Chandon Sullivan played his 19 snaps after Ronald Darby went down. Darby played 49 (71 percent) before injuring his knee in the third quarter.
• DE rotation: Brandon Graham (55 snaps — 80 percent), Michael Bennett (50 snaps — 72 percent), Chris Long (46 snaps — 67 percent), Josh Sweat (6 snaps — 9 percent). The Eagles said they want to get Sweat more involved; they didn't. But he did come into this game with a hip injury.
• Malcolm Jenkins, Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham played all 69 defensive snaps. Avonte Maddox played 68, while Rasul Douglas played 67. Hicks is 644/644 this season.
Here are a full look at snap counts from Sunday night:
Offense
Isaac Seumalo: 62 snaps (100 percent)
Halapoulivaati Vaitai: 62 (100)
Brandon Brooks: 62 (100)
Jason Kelce: 62 (100)
Jason Peters: 62 (100)
Carson Wentz: 62 (100)
Zach Ertz: 62 (100)
Alshon Jeffery: 60 (97)
Nelson Agholor: 55 (89)
Jordan Matthews: 37 (60)
Wendell Smallwood: 21 (34)
Josh Adams: 19 (31)
Corey Clement: 18 (29)
Dallas Goedert: 18 (29)
Golden Tate: 18 (29)
Stefen Wisniewski: 1 (2)
Shelton Gibson: 1 (2)
Defense
Malcolm Jenkins: 69 snaps (100 perent)
Jordan Hicks: 69 (100)
Nigel Bradham: 69 (100)
Avonte Maddox: 68 (99)
Rasul Douglas: 67 (97)
Fletcher Cox: 56 (81)
Brandon Graham: 55 (80)
Michael Bennett: 50 (72)
Ronald Darby: 49 (71)
Chris Long: 46 (67)
Haloti Ngata: 38 (55)
Corey Graham: 28 (41)
Tre Sullivan: 22 (41)
Kamu Grugier-Hill: 20 (29)
Chandon Sullivan: 19 (28)
T.Y. McGill: 15 (22)
Treyvon Hester: 11 (16)
Josh Sweat: 6 (9)
Nate Gerry: 2 (3)
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