Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert Recalls Injury vs. Commanders: 'Can't Be Scared'

PHILADELPHIA – The last time the Washington Commanders came to Philadelphia wasn’t very memorable for either the Eagles or Dallas Goedert.

Philly had been cruising along at 8-0 when the Commanders arrived at Lincoln Financial Field for a Monday night game. Washington left with a 32-21 win and also left the NFL without any more undefeated teams.

As for Goedert, he was the Eagles’ second-leading receiver at the time and, with 43 catches for 544 yards, appeared on his way to a 1,000-yard receiving year.

Washington linebacker Jamin Davis had other ideas. While making a tackle, Davis grabbed Goedert’s face mask and twisted him to the ground after Goedert made a catch in the fourth quarter of a game that the Commanders led at the time 23-21.

The tight end landed on his shoulder and, just like that, ended up missing the next five games with a shoulder injury.

“Yeah, it wasn’t fun.," he said on Wednesday as the undefeated Eagles prepare to welcome the Commanders to Philly on Sunday (FOX/1 p.m.). "I didn’t enjoy it. but if it happens, it happens. You’re never worried about it; you’re never thinking about that. And hope to avoid that at all costs.”

Davis wasn’t penalized on the play and referee Alex Kemp told a pool reporter afterward: “We didn’t see a face mask on the field.”

Never mind that the 70,000 or so fans in the stadium saw it and millions more on TV did, too.

“The game happened so fast, I doubt that he meant to grab my facemask and things like that,” said Goedert. “It’s just a game. I think there’s a 100 percent injury rate in this league. You can’t be scared but you’ve always got to be ready for whatever happens.”

Goedert said the film from last year’s game wasn’t fun to watch.

"Going out on a loss and having to sit out five weeks after it isn’t fun,” he said. “Obviously we turned the ball over way too much in that game. it will be a good game against this week. I’m excited to get back out there."

After starting the season without a catch in New England, Goedert is now the team’s third-leading receiver with 11 receptions for just 63 yards.

“I love catching the ball and I love playing with the ball in my hands. With this offense that’s not always going to be the case,” he said. “Defenses do different things to try to take us away. But it’s one of those things that you’ve just got to stay into it.

“You never know what play is going to be the next play when it’s going to spark a big run or when you’re just going to be needed. It’s just always waiting for the next play, the next opportunity.”