Philadelphia’s Swiss Army knife ready for left tackle
The NFL’s only unbeaten team will have a left offensive tackle on Sunday making his first start at the position since his freshman college season.
But no need to worry, Philadelphia Eagles fans: Jack Driscoll checked out YouTube to get ready.
Driscoll wanted to take a look at how he played left tackle in 2016 at Massachusetts. Since then, he’s played right tackle for Auburn and started 13 games in two seasons for the Eagles – nine at right guard and four at right tackle.
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“Maybe I’m not as comfortable at left tackle, but it doesn’t matter,” Driscoll said. “It’s my job to go in there and execute to the best of my ability and give us a chance to win. I don’t want to go in there and feel like I’m the reason why our play — we’ve been playing really well on offense — I don’t want to go in there and feel like I’m the reason play is slipping or certain things.
“(Offensive-line coach Jeff Stoutland) does a great job of getting us ready whatever the situation is. As you guys know, anything can happen, especially on the O-line. Guys are getting thrown around all over the place. You could be thrown in at any time.”
Driscoll warmed up for his start at left tackle in last week’s 29-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata hurt his shoulder trying to keep safety Andre Cisco from returning an interception for a touchdown on Philadelphia’s first possession.
Mailata did not practice for Sunday’s game and has been ruled out.
Normally, Andre Dillard would be Mailata’s backup, but the former first-round draft pick is on injured reserve because he broke his arm on Sept. 1. The Eagles have designated Dillard to return, and he has practiced, but Philadelphia has not restored him to the active roster yet.
That leaves Driscoll to play left tackle in Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
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Driscoll didn’t play an offensive snap in Philadelphia’s first three games before playing 76 last week, when he was on field for the Eagles’ rally from a 14-0 deficit.
“He’s always been a guy that is kind of like a Swiss Army knife up front, playing guard, playing tackle, playing on both sides of the center,” Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts said on Wednesday. “That’s what he is. I made the comment to him after the game. I said, ‘That’s how you come in and play.’ He said, ‘That’s what I do.’
“So I have a lot of confidence in Jack, and I appreciate the confidence he has in himself. It comes from the work he puts in.”
At 4-0, Philadelphia visits the 2-2 Cardinals at 3:25 p.m. CDT at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Arizona defense has the fewest sacks in the NFL this season with four.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.