Nick Sirianni justifies trust in CB Kelee Ringo with odd 23-TD WR comparison

The path to playing time in the NFL can be as unpredictable as a bad hop on an infield dirt. A player can be penciled in as the starter, only to see the eraser come out before the first snap of the season.

This summer was supposed to be Kelee Ringo's coronation. Instead, he found himself waiting in the wings, a former heir apparent now starring on special teams. The narrative seemed written. But in football, as in a long baseball season, the script can flip in an instant.

Now, an unexpected twist has thrust him back into the spotlight. With the Eagles preparing for a heavyweight Week 4 clash in Tampa, the secondary is suddenly thin. And Ringo’s number might be called. The coaching staff’s confidence, however, doesn't come from his work at cornerback in camp. Surprisingly, it stems from a story about a wide receiver from a decade ago.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked about Ringo’s readiness. He responded with an analogy that turned heads. "Kelee's done a really nice job, just continuing to work to get better," Sirianni began. "And obviously, we have a lot of faith in him. I think a lot of times you can see guys make their way on special teams that may not play or start right away, and those guys that are able to do that and make their way on special teams—you trust those guys in these scenarios as well." Then, he reached back to his time with the Chargers.

Sirianni recalled Tyrell Williams, a special teams player turned receiver in 2015 who caught a long touchdown in the season finale. "I remember, and I know it's different with a corner... But I think back to Tyrell Williams, a wide receiver I had with the Chargers in 2015," Sirianni said. And then he talked about Williams' oft-forgotten heroics for the Chargers.

"He was primarily a special teams player and not catching a lot of balls. And then the last game of the year, he had a 70- or 80-yard touchdown on a post play, and the next year he has 1,000 yards receiving. But he made his way on special teams. That playing time is really, really critical," Sirianni added. The coach does remember his players! Besides, this comparison is the foundation of the Eagles' faith.