It happens all the time in the NFL -- a bad break for one player can be a good break for another player. In this case, the bad break is literal.
Eagles WR Riley Cooper broke his collarbone in practice on Saturday and he’s expected to miss up to six weeks, which means he might not be ready for opening day.
And that means rookie Marvin McNutt has up to six weeks to show his coaches what he can do.
McNutt is the logical person to fill Cooper’s spot, since they’re both tall, physical WRs on a team dominated by small, fast types like DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.
Coach Andy Reid said he has no immediate plans to get another WR into camp and McNutt, a sixth-round pick from Iowa, is first in line to replace Cooper as the No. 4 receiver behind Jackson, Maclin and Jason Avant.
McNutt was recruited to Iowa as a QB and ended up as the school’s all-time leading receiver, with 170 catches for 2,861 yards and 28 TDs.
“He’s a big, physical kid and you saw him attack the football (in practice) and he made some big plays," Reid said. “You saw him on a quick screen make some people miss and make a big play there."
“When you put the pads on, that’s his game,” Reid added. “That’s when he can get physical.”
It was that physical presence -- McNutt is 6-foot-2, 220 pounds -- that attracted the Eagles on draft day. They were looking for a tough-bodied and tough-minded WR who can catch the ball in a crowd, especially when that crowd is in the end zone.
“That’s all about focus and concentration and being willing to take a hit," McNutt said. “If that’s what this team needs, that’s what I plan on giving them. And even though I hated to see Coop go down like that, I also realize that this is a great chance for me to show the coaches what I can do. That’s all I can ask for."
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadephia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSSportsNFLPHI.
