Carson Wentz Looking Forward to Getting on Roll With Alshon Jeffery

At some point during their dinner within the last month, had Carson Wentz picked up a warm roll from the table in front of him and launched it anywhere into the air, Alshon Jefferey would have used his 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame to rise above waiters, patrons and plates of T-bone steaks to haul it in. 

The same exercise with a few Eagles' holdover receivers from 2016 would have resulted in a drop and a scramble to evoke the five-second rule. 

Of course, that didn't happen. Wentz and Jeffery went out to dinner -- sometime since Jeffery was brought in on a one-year deal on March 9 -- and probably just had a nice conversation over a good meal. 

Jeffery is the type of weapon Wentz simply didn't have during his rookie season. He's the type of weapon who doesn't have to be open to be open, the type of weapon who has a unique blend of size and speed and an even more unique ability to control his body on the ground and in the air. 

"Anytime you can add players like that," Wentz said, referencing all the team's offseason acquisitions, "that you think can really help the team, it creates a lot of buzz, a lot of interest and it's a lot of excitement in that locker room." 

As of Monday, when Wentz spoke to reporters at the start of the team's offseason program, he still hadn't thrown to Jefferey this week. That will come soon enough. (Quarterbacks are allowed to throw to uncovered receivers during Phase One of the offseason program.)  

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So far, the two have just been working on building a rapport. 

"Alshon's great," Wentz said. "Getting to eat dinner with him and get around him, he's a quiet guy. He's a quiet guy, but I've seen him on film and we talked about some of the things he can do on the field. Haven't gotten to know him too much quite yet, but I am excited to finally get out there and throw with him." 

Back in early March, when Jeffery and Torrey Smith met with Philly reporters for the first time, both cited Wentz as a main reason they decided to join the Eagles. 

Back then, Jeffery said, "That had a lot to do with it. I mean, the sky's the limit for him." 

While playing with Wentz was one of the main reasons Jeffery said he came to Philly, it's very possible Jeffery could mean even more to the young quarterback. 

During the owners meetings late last month, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase, who coached Jeffery for a year with the Bears, was asked what the wideout could do for Wentz. 

He didn't mince words. 

Gase said Jeffery is the only player he's ever coached that he would tell his quarterback to throw up the ball regardless of coverage (see story).  

"You don't have to think, you can just throw it up," Gase said. "Like, you can just legitimately throw it up with two guys on him and he'll go get the ball."

Wentz said he went back and watched a little bit of Jeffery film after the Eagles signed him in March, so it's likely he's already seen that play-making ability on the tape. 

He could have seen it in person at a local restaurant, but the bread stayed in the basket. 

Maybe this season, they'll get on a roll. 

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