It has been a roller-coaster kind of rookie season for offensive lineman Jack Driscoll, a fourth-round draft pick who started the year at right tackle at Washington and who now returns to the starting lineup at right tackle for Sunday's game in Green Bay. The insertion of Driscoll is the 11th starting combination for the Eagles along the offensive line and, for Driscoll, who has played 169 offensive snaps in his rookie season, another chance to prove himself.
"My goal is to help this team win games," Driscoll said. "Whatever that role is, whether it's starting, filling in for a guy that's hurt, my approach has been the same each day. On the sidelines when I'm not playing, I'm cheering those guys on, maybe I see something on the field, contributing, helping coach Stout (Jeff Stoutland, offensive line coach/run game coordinator) see things. It's great to play, it's fun, it's always great to be out there representing the City of Philadelphia and the great organization of the Philadelphia Eagles.
"No matter what the role is, I'll be content and happy and I will do it 100 percent."
Green Bay brings a lot of pressure from the edges as they move around veterans Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, along with Rashan Gary. Driscoll is going to see a lot of faces on Sunday. He is playing next to veteran Jason Peters, who makes his second start at right guard.
"It's awesome. Jason is a guy who has been around the league for 17 years and his resume speaks for itself. He's one of those guys who has so many tricks. He'll say, 'do this' or 'watch this,' and you obviously listen to a guy who is a Hall of Fame-caliber player," Driscoll said. "I grew up watching him in big-time matchups and shutting down elite pass rushers. It's awesome. He's extremely knowledgeable, he communicates well, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity."
Twelve weeks after starting the opener, Driscoll has a better understanding of what is to come on Sunday. He started the opener and then moved into a reserve role before playing 55 snaps against Baltimore until he suffered a right ankle injury that kept him out of action for a month.
"When our number is called, we've got to be ready. When it is our time to go, we can't let the team down," Driscoll said. "I'm just excited at the opportunity at hand. Coming in each day and understanding defense is something that I've definitely improved in my game and just understanding how to watch film and picking guys' (brains) – JP (Peters), (Jason) Kelce, Lane (Johnson), and all those guys who have done it for so long. I always figure, those are the best guys to mimic. Those are Hall of Fame-caliber players. Those guys are really helpful."
