Here's why the Eagles are sticking with kicker Jake Elliott despite ugly misses

The Eagles are supporting their kicker much in the same way they're supporting Carson Wentz, who lost his starting job at quarterback to rookie Jalen Hurts.

Like Wentz, Jake Elliott is struggling through his worst season that has him near the bottom of the NFL in field goal percentage.

This coming after Elliott missed a 22-yard field goal at the end of the first half last Sunday against the Saints. Elliott called that "frustrating" and "embarrassing," but insisted that he hasn't lost this confidence.

The missed field goal kept the Eagles from taking a 20-0 lead at halftime. As it turned out, the Eagles had to hang on for a 24-21 win.

"It’s a tough position as far as that goes because you only get so many opportunities," Elliott said. "And when I get them, I have to capitalize."

It's not much different from what Wentz had said leading up to his demotion, saying that he's got to play better as he ranked near the bottom of quarterbacks in the NFL.

Elliott is making only 72.2% of his field goals (13-for-18). That is by far Elliott's lowest percentage of his career that began in 2017. Only two NFL kickers have converted a lower percentage of kicks.

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Of Elliott's five misses, two have come from inside 30 yards (he's 1-for-3) and the other three have come from 50 yards or more (2-for-5). Elliott has been perfect between 30 and 49 yards.

Elliott is also 18 of 20 (90%) on extra points, when the league average is about 94%.

Still, Eagles special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has expressed confidence in Elliott, as has head coach Doug Pederson. 

"Obviously, the last three weeks he's had some short misses there," Fipp said. "It's unacceptable for us. He knows that, I know that."

As far as considering someone else, Fipp said: "Obviously the guy has a pretty strong track record. This is the first blip on the radar, I would say. We're a ways away from being in that position with him."

But really, the Eagles might not have a choice but to "fix" Elliott instead of bringing in another kicker.

It's the same with Wentz, who was signed to a four-year contract worth as much as $128 million in June 2019, thus making it very difficult to either trade or release him.

The Eagles would take a salary cap hit of $59.2 million for 2021 should they release Wentz. And Wentz's $34.7 million salary cap hit for next season also makes it difficult to trade him.

Of course, if Wentz can't win back the starting job, it would also make him by far the most expensive backup quarterback in the NFL.

Last November, Elliott signed a five-year contract extension worth as much as $20 million. But the Eagles would take a salary cap hit of $8 million if they were to release him during the offseason.

Keep in mind that the Eagles are projected to be about $70 million over the 2021 salary cap. So releasing Elliott, plus signing a new kicker, would be cost-prohibitive.

Elliott said the contract has nothing to do with his struggles this season.

"I don’t think that’s changed me as a person," Elliott said. "I don’t think that’s changed me as a player at all. I still show up to work and do the same thing every day. I work my tail off. It’s really, really important to me."

Elliott said he appreciates the support he has received from Pederson and Fipp, when asked if a tougher approach might help him more.

"I think I’m the hardest person there is on myself," Elliott said. "I don’t know if I need it from anybody else. It kills me inside. I try to have a really short memory about it and just get back to work. 

"I think that’s been a really bright spot of why I have had success in this league is because I am able to brush these things off rather quickly and just get back to who I am."

That's what the Eagles have to hope for, too.

After all, Elliott has had more than his share of successes. That began in his second game with the Eagles, in Sept. 2017, when he hit a 61-yard field goal to beat the Giants as time expired.

The Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl that season, and Elliott hit three field goals in the championship game, including a 46-yarder with 1:05 left for the final 41-33 margin.

Eagles going with 13th O-line combination

Pederson confirmed that Matt Pryor will start in place of rookie Jack Driscoll, who is likely out for the rest of the season with a sprained knee ligament. It will be the Eagles' 13th different offensive line combination in 14 games.

Pederson said he didn't know yet if Driscoll will need surgery. Driscoll suffered the injury in the second quarter last Sunday against the Saints, but finished out the game.

Eagles place McLeod on IR

Safety Rodney McLeod was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, and the Eagles promoted defensive back Elijah Riley from the practice squad to take his spot. In addition, the Eagles signed safety Blake Countess to the practice squad. 

Countess was the Eagles' sixth-round pick in 2016. He spent three seasons with the Rams (2016-18) and last season with the Jets.

CB Darius Slay (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday, a sign that he is still in the concussion protocol. Neither did DT Fletcher Cox (rest), S Grayland Arnold (hamstring), Driscoll and CB Avonte Maddox (both knee).

LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring), S Rudy Ford (hamstring), DT Malik Jackson (concussion), CB Michael Jacquet and DE Josh Sweat (shoulder) were limited.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.