It’s fair to say that Robert Queen’s trade isn’t exactly planned out yet.
The Eagles shipped a fourth-round pick to Chicago for a three-time Pro Bowler in late October, and they were hoping Quinn would be the final touchdown on their Super Bowl roster.
Early returns weren’t great. In his five games with the Eagles after the trade, Quinn struggled to make an impact and then landed on the injured reserve with a knee injury.
You may have even forgotten that Quinn has been on the team for the past month.
But earlier this week, the Eagles activated Quinn’s training window, and there’s a chance he’ll return to action in the final game of the regular season. Quinn hopes he can help the team into the playoffs.
“I certainly hope so,” Quinn said Thursday. “They brought me here for a reason. I hope I can do what they expected me to do when they brought me here. But we’ll see when it’s game time.”
In a way, Quinn feels lucky that his knee injury wasn’t season-ending. He had those before.
It’s amazing that the Eagles lead the NFL in sacks — by a wide margin — and the player on the team who had the most sacks in 2021 didn’t contribute at all. Quinn had 18 1/2 sacks with the Bears last year, but he’s only had 1 of 12 sacks this season – and that 1 came with the Bears.
In his 5 games with the Eagles, Quinn was held 0 sack and made only 2 tackles and 2 QB hits in 5 games (70 snaps).
“The numbers weren’t there but I felt fine,” Quinn said. “But that’s in the past. Hopefully, come Sunday, I can get back on track.”
Expectations for Quinn won’t be very high, but with some uncertainty over Josh Sweet – who picked up a scary neck injury on Sunday but said he’ll be back sometime this season – Quinn may be able to help.
And he’ll be really excited, especially when the Eagles get into the postseason. Quinn, 32, has been in the NFL since 2011 and has played in just two total matches — a loss with the Rams in 2017 and a loss with the Bears in 2020.
“I’ll let you know when we get to the postseason, when all that happens,” Quinn said. “I don’t want to look too far ahead. … I hope I have a better story for you in a few weeks from now.”
When asked what he’d learned most about his new team over the past month on the sidelines, Quinn was struck by the affection his teammates have for one another. He said the camaraderie is real.
And although Quinn is a very quiet and low-key guy, he’s felt at home since his arrival thanks to his new teammates who welcome him.
“They just love each other,” Quinn said. “From offense, defense and special teams, guys just love each other, want the best for each other. Of course, we all want to win. I could say things we already know but I think the love and camaraderie that guys have makes you want to perform for your partner next to you that much more.” You can’t buy brotherly love.”
Then Quinn shook his head and laughed. He didn’t mean to hit the city’s emblem. just came out.
But it still fits.
After a month away, Thursday marked Quinn’s first time back on the practice field and he said it felt good to get back out there and shake off some rust.
“I was kidding about him,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said Thursday. “I said, he’s got to have some new legs and a new knee, but I think he’ll come along, if he’s ready to go, we’ll field him and play, and that’s kind of the head coach and DR thing for us.
“But excited to see him get out there and play. That’s why we got him, and that was by Howie (Roseman), a good addition to us, and we know what he can do. I think he’s excited.”
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