Eagles desperate for help at WR, where help is not easy to find

The challenge facing the Eagles is that they desperately need immediate help in a situation where it is almost impossible to find immediate help.

The Eagles were thin off the pre-season, and since they lost Mack Hollins for at least half of the season, they have been without Alshon Jeffery the first two weeks, and now they've lost Mike Wallace for a period of prolonged time and perhaps the whole season with a fracture not displaced in the fibula.

Markus Wheaton was cut, re-signed and cut. Kamar Aiken was cut and re-signed. The only receivers other than Nelson Agholor on the roster of 53 uninjured players were Shelton Gibson and DeAndre Carter, who had three career receptions between them.

It's bad and there is no easy solution.

The thing about the wide receiver position is that it takes time for the players to become productive. And there are no shortcuts.

You rarely see a great player join a new team and have an immediate impact.

So many things come in.

Determine how to work with new coaches. Take time with the quarterback. Learn games and training and terminology. Memorize a sophisticated game book.

There is no way to speed up this process.

Heck, Wallace spoke last week before he was hurt about how Nick Foles and he continued to understand each other – and Wallace was there all summer.

That's why you do not see the Eagles sign these great, high-priced, veteran receivers that fans often call for. There is a reason they are on the street or available. They are expensive and the Eagles are certainly not in a very good position. They are often more concerned with their next paycheque than adapting to the culture of a team – and it's a delicate culture to integrate. And Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas are very careful not to add free agents that do not fit. No matter his talent.

Plus, you have to consider that Alshon will be back soon, and when that happens, the Eagles will have their 1-2 in the Super Bowl season. Depth remains a problem, but remember that Torrey Smith was the Eagles' third player in the Super Bowl season, and averaged 26 yards per game.

If Jordan Matthews or Jeremy Maclin can be healthy and available? They know the attack, but Maclin has not been an elite player since 2015, and it's an eternity for big receivers.

Doug Pederson said Monday that finding a playmaker or two is the team's number one priority right now. He said that he prefers a veteran who can contribute sooner or later.

But the reality is that it's almost impossible to get instant help to outout.

I think that once Carson Wentz takes over, all the receivers will look better. He has a way of making the guys around him good.

The Eagles need to add at least one big-net this week. You can not go to a football match with Aiken, Gibson and Carter with Agholor.

You can not.

But their chances of going out and finding a guy who walks down the street three weeks into the regular season and can play big games in the passing game are slim.

So keep your expectations in check.

What obviously makes it all harder to swallow, is to see DeSean Jackson make an explosive field game against the team that cut it five years ago.

Thank you, Chip.

But that's the story. The Eagles are not going to find a Pro Bowler or a Hall of Famer at this stage. It is quite difficult to find someone who can catch a football.

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