NFC Notes: Eagles, Bethel, 49ers, Barr

While newcomer Ronald Darby has only played 16 snaps for the Eagles this season, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes the Jordan Matthews trade still worked out for Philly. The writer mostly cites the fact that the trade provided both wideout Nelson Agholor and tight end Zach Ertz with more offensive opportunities, and the duo has more than delivered in 2017.

Agholor has hauled in 20 catches for 321 yards and four touchdowns, while Ertz has established himself as one of the top tight ends in the league, catching 34 passes for 405 yards and four scores. While Ertz was productive in 2016, Agholor has seen a drastic boost in production, which could be directly attributed to him sliding into the slot role.

“It’s been a great opportunity for me to run different routes and give a different look,” Agohlor said. “I like playing outside, inside, wherever. I just like being a guy you can get the football to, so I want to know as much as I can in terms of the route tree.

“Doug Pederson decided this was a great place for me to help me get those targets and I’m very appreciative.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…

• With cornerback Justin Bethel continuing to struggle, ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reports that the Cardinals will likely replace him in the starting lineup with veteran Tramon Williams. Pro Football Focus ranks Bethel 95th among 108 qualified cornerbacks, a far cry from his above-average rankings in 2016 and 2015. Coach Bruce Arians all but confirmed the move, noting that Williams is “in a bunch of packages, and he’ll be playing a bunch.”
• Rookie linebacker Reuben Foster has missed the past five games as he’s recovered from a high-ankle injury, but the 49ers are confident the first-rounder will play this weekend. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that coach Kyle Shanahan said Foster should be in the lineup this weekend against the Cowboys, barring a setback.
• After undergoing surgery earlier this week, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was placed on the injured reserve yesterday. Well, the player who caused that injury is now trying to clear his name. Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr told ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin that he isn’t a dirty player. “By no means was I trying to injure or take out Aaron Rodgers,” Barr said. “He’s one of, if not, the best player in this league. I’m not a dirty player. I don’t play dirty. We don’t preach that around here…It’s unfortunate, the injury. I hate to see anybody get hurt. It’s a gift and a privilege to be able to play on the field each week, so I would never try and take that away from anybody, let alone one of the best players in our game.”