Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay does not want to hear any talk about the Eagles potentially resting players ahead of their season finale against the New York Giants this Sunday.
“No. We ain’t playing great enough to sit down and we need momentum for the playoffs,” Slay said, via Zach Berman of PHLY. “I know everybody is worried about their bodies, but on this team, everybody knows in their heart that we’ve go to go out there and play a complete, clean game. … We’ve got to get going. Ain’t no way we can sit down. But that is up to coach.”
Philadelphia has lost four of its last five games, most recently losing to the lowly Arizona Cardinals by a score of 35-31 at home last weekend.
In addition, the Eagles have fallen out of first place in the NFC East. If the Dallas Cowboys defeat the Washington Commanders on Sunday, the Cowboys will capture the division title.
Case in point, it’s not even like Philadelphia has nothing to play for in Week 18. It is still playing for the division crown, so resting players would not be a good idea regardless.
Slay has logged 57 tackles, a couple of interceptions, 14 passes defended and a defensive touchdown in 12 games this season.
The 33-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Mississippi State, was originally selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
He spent the first seven years of his career with the Lions and was somewhat of a late bloomer, as he did not make his first Pro Bowl until his fifth season. However, it represented a turning point for Slay, as he made the Pro Bowl in each of his last three years with Detroit. That included a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2017 after he racked up 60 tackles, eight picks, a fumble recovery and 26 passes defended.
The Lions proceeded to trade Slay to the Eagles in March 2020. He made a couple of more trips to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022.
Philadelphia is 11-5 on the season.
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