This is not a surprise to Dallas Goedert, nor is it anything that has dramatically changed his function within the Eagles' offense. He has been a huge weapon, really, throughout his career here, and to see his numbers through five games affirms that fact: 24 receptions, 243 yards and an NFL tight end-best (and career-tying best) five touchdown catches.
Goedert has a touchdown in each of the last four games, tying an Eagles record set initially by Charle Young way back in 1974-75 and tied by Zach Ertz in 2019.
And there is more to go.
"Yeah, you know, the ball has been coming my way a decent amount but what matters is that we have to find ways to win games and I have to stay healthy," Goedert said this week after practice, seated at his NovaCare Complex locker. "Hopefully, I can keep rolling, but it's really about everyone in our offense going out there and doing it for 60 minutes and us winning games. That's what I care about."
Goedert has been a weapon in the offense since the Eagles used a second-round draft pick on him in 2018 – a big, strong, pass-catching machine who is great with the football in his hands. He's also an excellent in-line blocker and a player who shares in the success the Eagles have had year over year on the ground.
The challenge has been staying healthy – he has played a full regular season only in his rookie campaign and has otherwise missed large chunks of action in his career and has participated in 70 percent or more of the snaps only in the 2021 and 2023 seasons.
When he has been on the field, Goedert is used in a variety of ways – he is too fast for linebackers to cover and too big for safeties to handle. In a league where the tight end is a valuable piece, Goedert is right up there with the best of the best when he has had the chance to show his game.
"Last year, you know, I was leading the tight ends in the league in yards and receptions and I had a really good postseason for us last year (a team-best 17 receptions)," Goedert said. "I've just gotta make sure I stay on the field. I feel when I do that, I get a good amount of targets and I'm used the way I like to be used. Anything to help the team – catching passes, blocking. As long as we win.
"It's just that I've had some injuries to deal with. That's part of the game."
As the Eagles look to put together some consistency within the offense, Goedert is one of the main pieces. He knows he is going to get a favorable matchup most of the time, and he wants to take advantage – either to open things up for another player or to do what he does with the ball in his hands.
Either way, the focus for No. 88 isn't on his numbers. He just wants to get the offense playing to the best of its ability.
"We have had moments," he said. "We have to put it all together. We know how good the Vikings are and what they do on defense – they have a lot of pressure packages and do a great job with their coverages. They are going to be aggressive, and we have to counter that."
A win is the objective, and if Goedert catches a few passes along the way, that's great, too. He just wants to wipe the taste of a two-game losing streak out of his mouth.
"We need to play better, and we will," he said. "We need to put it together for a full game and then we'll see what happens."
