Doug Pederson indicated Monday he’s considering giving struggling wide receiver Nelson Agholor some time off to “clear his head.”
 
Pederson said he planned to speak with Agholor before making any decisions about how to handle his unique situation but spoke at length about how much some time off can help any athlete going through a rough time.
 
"You know, sometimes -- and this is just me speaking, it's not a decision by any means -- but sometimes you have to take a step back in order to go forward. Sometimes that can help clear your head.
 
“I remember as a quarterback back in 1999 when Andy Reid pulled me out and put Donovan (McNabb) in, it was a step back to possibly go forward and to see it differently.
 
“In that way you can begin to clear your head and see it where you don't have the pressure of performing on you all the time.”
 
Agholor, the Eagles’ first-round pick last year, suffered through a nightmarish game in Seattle Sunday, with a devastating penalty that wiped out a 57-yard Carson Wentz touchdown pass to Zach Ertz and also a costly drop that wiped out a big play. He caught a two-point conversion but officially had no catches in the Eagles’ 26-15 loss at CenturyLink Field.
 
After the game, Agholor spoke at length at his locker about what he called his “mental block” and apologized to Eagles fans for his performance so far.
 
“I started getting in my own head and trying so hard to think about being perfect, and when miscues were there, I let it just eat at me,” he said. “I need to continue to work better at letting things go.”
 
Pederson’s coments combined with Agholor’s struggles and the Eagles’ promotion Monday of undrafted rookie receiver Paul Turner from the practice squad to the 53-man roster sure seems to indicate a high liklihood of a layoff of some duration for Agholor, who has the fewest yards of any NFL receiver who has started at least 20 games over the past two years.
 
“I will definitely have a conversation with Nelson and I’ll address that as we get later in the week,” Pederson said. “But those are definitely concerns that I have now that obviously he’s announced that publically. My concern is for him is as an individual, as a person, to make sure that he’s in a good spot. 

“Hey listen, pro football aside, we all know about that. I just want to make sure he as a person is doing good, so we’ll have that conversation during the week.”
 
Pederson spoke of the benefits that a layoff could do for a player who seems mentally lost like Agholor does right now. Similar to what the Flyers just did with Shayne Gostisbehere.
 
“It’s all speculation, obviously, but I think sometimes as athletes, you put so much pressure on yourself to perform,” Pederson said. “Then when it maybe doesn't quite work out in your favor, outside influences, i.e. the media and fans, put more pressure on you to perform (because) you're a top pick and you need to perform. 
 
“All that pressure on a player is not good. So in Nelson's case, sometimes like I mentioned, sometimes maybe you have to take a step back and maybe you have to see it differently and view it differently. 
 
“These are all conversations that he and I will have this week. And again, the well being of the player and the person (means more) to me than (his performance) as an athlete and receiver.”
 
Agholor was asked at his locker Sunday night if he feels like he needs to step away and he quickly said no, that he has a responsbility to his teammates to help the Eagles win and he can’t do that if he’s not playing.
 
But Agholor is on pace for just 422 receiving yards this year, is averaging less than 17 yards in his last five games and has just seven receiving yards in the last two games.
 
Agholor has 547 receiving yards in 23 career games. Over the last 10 years, 164 different NFL players have more receiving yards in their first 23 games.
 
“I've seen him trying to just do things a little out of character for him, and that's obviously a sign that maybe things are not going well for him,” Pederson said. 
 
“As athletes, you've got to let the game sort of come to you, and I feel like he's maybe pressing just a little bit. … And he's doing everything right. Listen, he's working hard. He's getting work after practice and doing everything right. We're just going to continue to work.”