Malcolm Jenkins wasn’t about to put his full stamp of approval on the Eagles’ 2018 season, but with all of the adversity this team endured, and how far the Eagles were able to get, he has no regrets.
“Every year when you’re not packing up your locker after not winning a Super Bowl it's disappointing, but I think we’ll look back on this year, evaluate it, and like what we see,” Jenkins said. “I think everybody is extremely proud of what we were able to put together. We went through a lot, and considering how far we were able to take what we had, guys are without a doubt proud of it.
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“There is very little regret what we did this year. We took things as far as we could—and had a lot of fun doing it.
“Personally, I just finished my 10th year in the league and thank God every day that I’m still healthy, still able to perform and grateful to be in the locker room with these guys, and super proud to be out of in front of them, watching the young guys grow in front of my eyes and other guys just stepping up.
“This is honestly a group of guys that play for each other. For me, it’s been one of the more fulfilling years of my career.”
For the 2018 Eagles to even make the playoffs, let alone win a playoff game, was a victory in itself. The Eagles were sitting at 6-7 with three games left to play, relying on players like Cre’Von LeBlanc, Tre Sullivan and rookie Avonte Maddox. By the end of the season, LeBlanc and Maddox emerged as viable secondary pieces that could play vital roles for the Eagles in 2019.
“We scrapped our way back against a team that blew us earlier in the year, and they had all of their guys, it was disappointing, but for us, all we had to go through, we have no regrets,” Jenkins said about the 20-14 NFC divisional round playoff against the New Orleans Saints.
“I think we’re a special group and I think it’s the fact that we love each other, and we honestly play for the man next to us. We had everybody contribute. At first, the plane ride home (after the Saints’ loss) was a little disappointing, but when we realized these were going to be the couple of moments we would have together, we laughed it up, knowing we won’t have the opportunity to play again.
“Every year, there is a 30-percent change on a team.”
Asked what may lie ahead for the Eagles, Jenkins admitted the goal will remain the same: Making the playoffs.
“The locker room looks different every year,” Jenkins said. “Even this year looks different than last year. That’s one thing that’s guaranteed to happen. It’s crazy to imagine what this team would have looked like if it would have stayed healthy.
“That’s the nature of this business. We’ll see what happens. We’ll show up at training camp and see who we have. We’ll see who makes the roster and go ahead with that.”
As for a significant amount of turnover with the roster, Jenkins replied, “I was here during the Chip Kelly era, nothing will surprise me. You have a lot of veteran guys that contribute, a lot of young guys that I think have put together a good body of work that could demand some money outside of here. That will come own to Howie (Roseman, the Eagles’ executive vice president of football operations) and individual guys where they see their career going.
“One thing I do know: We’ve built a solid culture around here that I think will be a good destination for people in free agency that will come to a team that will compete every year.”
Follow Malcolm Jenkins on Twitter @MalcolmJenkins and Facebook at Malcolmjenkinsnfl.
Visit Malcolm's clothing store, Damari Savile: Born in the City of Brotherly Love, Damari Savile provides made to order suiting for those looking for a more stylish fit for their wardrobe. Located at 709 Walnut Street.
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