Two former Eagles draft picks now on the Vikings — linebacker Jordan Hicks and receiver Jalen Reagor — return to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Monday night for the first time since they played for the Eagles.
'Means a little bit more': Vikings' Jordan Hicks, Jalen Reagor return to Philadelphia
The reunions sit differently with Hicks, the 30-year-old veteran with fond memories, and Reagor, the 23-year-old receiver who was traded away two weeks ago.
September 16, 2022 at 5:18AM
The reunions sit differently with Hicks, the 30-year-old veteran who hasn't played for the Eagles since 2018, and Reagor, the 23-year-old punt returner who was dealt away by Philadelphia just two weeks ago for a conditional fourth-round pick. Both Vikings players said they keep in touch with friends in the organization.
But Reagor, the 2020 first-round pick selected just ahead of Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, wants to show up the Eagles after they decided to move on from him after 28 games in two seasons. His only chance might be as a punt returner, where he played four snaps during Sunday's win over Green Bay.
"Of course, why not?" Reagor said Thursday. "But I'm not going to go into the game pressing. I'm going to let the game come to me. If there are plays to make, make the best of them."
Hicks, a 2015 third-round pick by Philadelphia, returns with fond memories. He went on to play more games — 49 — for the Arizona Cardinals than the 43 games he played for the Eagles over four seasons. But none of his NFL moments top the Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl win at U.S. Bank Stadium, where he now plays home games.
"That was a storybook moment for me," Hicks said. "I was able to take some time and kind of slow down and remember all that stuff, so, yeah. Every time I think back, it's like a book, like a story."
Hicks wrote a strong first chapter with the Vikings, finishing with a team-high 14 combined tackles (nine solo) and a sack-fumble against the Packers. He's looking to create more memories on the Eagles' home field on Monday night.
"I have a lot of good memories out there, a lot of people I still know," Hicks said. "Anytime you play a former team or play back in your hometown, it means a little bit more."
Cine to 'finally show what I got'
Cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. did not practice Thursday, and was the only active Vikings player sidelined. Booth sustained a quadriceps injury on special teams against the Packers.
Safety Lewis Cine, the team's first-round pick, returned to practice as a full participant from the knee contusion initially suffered Aug. 20 against the 49ers. Cine aggravated the injury last week and was held out of the Packers win. He's expecting to make his NFL debut in Philadelphia, where Cine said he's looking forward to reuniting with fellow ex-Georgia Bulldogs defenders Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, both Eagles rookies.
"I'm real excited to finally show what I got, what I bring to the table," Cine said. "That's all I'm thinking about is Monday."
The Eagles held out one player — tight end Jack Stoll (ankle) — on Thursday due to injury. Defensive end Derek Barnett was placed on injured reserve earlier this week due to a torn ACL suffered in the season-opening win against the Lions. Philadelphia signed edge defender Janarius Robinson off the Vikings' practice squad.
Etc.
- Head coach Kevin O'Connell on sustaining success after putting plays on film: "If you've built it the right way, it's one of those things where I like to think that our offense is going to be evolving week to week, where it's not so much the plays and the philosophy, but the execution level of what we're asking our players to do. It's on us to give them a clear plan."
- Running back Dalvin Cook on what he's expecting playing in Philadelphia for the first time in his NFL career: "It's a crazy environment. I know their fans be ecstatic, they be crazy. But it's just about controlling the environment. I've played enough football to know it's just another road game."
- Left tackle Christian Darrisaw grew up in a family of Eagles fans, and he said a cheering section of about 12 to 15 family and friends are expected to wear split Vikings-Eagles jerseys.
- The Broncos signed ex-Vikings safety Anthony Harris to their practice squad.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
