The Jags’ defensive concerns start with the Eagles’ top WRs.

PHILADELPHIA — As things progressed in Philadelphia with the annual run-the-ball campaign bolstered enough by weeks of success to evoke a form of “I told you so” in football, Jacksonville defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen took the podium. on Florida’s First Coast to speculate on what’s in store for his 29th-ranked defense when they arrive at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

“They have really good talent, really good talent,” Nielsen said before moving on to the player who is the biggest problem for the pass defense at No. 31. “(AJ Brown) has been playing at a high level since returned. Physical receiver, really physical, catch point, strong hands. He’s really good at press coverage and getting out and has great speed.”

This is all?

Coaches must be relentlessly optimistic, and while things look bad on paper for the 2-6 Jags, Nielsen has done his part to lay the groundwork for trying to slow down the No. 2 ranked WR. NFL per Pro Football Focus for the four games Brown played.

“It will be a good challenge. We just need to play our game,” Jags DC said. “We have to come in and make a physical game for him. We need to work on the coverage a little bit so he’s not just catching faded balls and things like that that people do.”

Nielsen’s concerns don’t end in 11th place. Despite missing Friday’s practice due to personal reasons, DeVonta Smith is ready for Sunday’s game.

“But two really good receivers. And the speed that DeVonta has allows him to tackle any coverage,” Nielsen said. “So just by executing, we’re going to have to play some kind of shell. Definitely going to have to stay on top of these guys and then mix them up.

“Just keep mixing up coverages on Jalen Hurts so he doesn’t get single reads and go to X or Z every game.”

The Eagles’ offensive coaching staff believes fourth-year cornerback Tyson Campbell, a 6-foot-1 guard with 4.36 speed who committed from Georgia in 2021, will keep an eye on Brown when the Jags use man coverage.

“He’s a really good football player who can do anything,” Nielsen said of Campbell. “Man coverage, zone coverage, speed. … It just adds to the fact that you can, ‘Hey, you have this guy, you want to play in the cloud or look like a human, play zone,’ and things like that, and it really completes the package.”

The rest of Jacksonville High School isn’t as impressive as Campbell, so Nielsen’s real hope is that the bold advocates of truth have not only influenced public opinion in Philadelphia, but also those who matter at the NovaCare complex.

The Jags will take advantage of their chance Sunday with the ninth-ranked defense.

JOHN McMULLEN’S PICK: Eagles 30, Jaguars 16