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Knott finding place among Eagles' linebackers

August 14, 2013, 8:00 pm

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Like the vast majority of rookies and playersnew to the organization, Jake Knott knows aroster spot at the end of preseason is far froma guarantee.

With that, Knott, an undrafted linebackersigned by the Eagles early in the summer,didn't lease an apartment.

Instead, he's shacking up in the Marriott at the Philadelphia Airport with fellow rookie Earl Wolff.

Wolff has been a solid roommate and friend to Knott this summer, but hotel life has taken a tollon the linebacker after living in the same room throughout rookie workouts, OTAs and nowtraining camp.

"It's alright. ... There's not a lot of scenery around," Knott said with a chuckle.

But Knott didn't choose Philadelphia for the sights, and he certainly didn't pick the City ofBrotherly Love for the housing market.

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Jake Knott, seen here during the first day oftraining camp, had four tackles, half of a sack, apass defended and two QB hits in the Eagles' firstpreseason game last week. (USA Today Images)

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The former Iowa State standout picked the Eagles out of multiple free agent offers because ofthe chance he'd have to see the field.

And that opportunity has been followed by success as Knott is proving his worth to head coachChip Kelly and his fellow teammates.

"I think Jake's had a really, really good camp," Kelly said. "He's got an instinct and nose for thefootball. He just kind of seems to be around it a lot."

Knott performed well Friday against the Patriots in the Eagles' first preseason game. The middlelinebacker racked up four tackles (three solo), half of a sack, a pass defended and twoquarterback hits.

The 22-year-old has used that game to propel him in practice this week. Knott has receivedsubstantial work with the second-team defense with Casey Matthews (knee) being held out, andhe even got a look with the first-team in a nickel set.

But Knott isn't in awe at the present moment; rather, he's got his sights on the outcome of fourpreseason games leading to a roster spot.

"People will let you know if you had a good game. But it's what can you do for me now?" Knottsaid. "That game's in the past and it's nothing for me to dwell on or anybody else. So if they saidanything that night, it's in one ear and out the other because I have to go out there and performnow."

"It doesn't necessarily matter where I'm at right now as opposed to where I'm at after the fourthgame of the preseason."

But praising Knott's fast start to camp without looking into his past would be doing the linebackeran injustice.

Knott tore his left labrum in 2011 -- which required postseason surgery -- only to re-tear thesame shoulder muscle the game before homecoming in his senior year. The second tear forcedKnott to Chicago where he consulted with the Bears' doctor, resulting in one conclusion:surgery.

Again.

But a glimmer of good news in an otherwise sour way to end the season was that Knott couldn'tdo any more damage to his shoulder. It would be painful, but Knott could play the homecominggame against Baylor the following week if he was up to it.

He decided to play.

"[My left arm] was locked up in a brace, and I just hit with my right shoulder. ... It’s not abouttoughness in that situation. I just didn’t want to let my teammates down," Knott said.

The linebacker didn't let those teammates down, recording 11 tackles, a forced fumble andearning Big 12 defensive player of the week.

As for any injury concerns now, Knott said he's comfortable with his shoulder, and there hasn'tbeen any problems since his Pro Day at Iowa State.

Surgery and rehab patched up Knott's shoulder issues, but the switch from weakside outsidelinebacker in a 4-3 to the middle in a 3-4 with the Eagles? That took instincts Kelly believes ishard to teach.

"There are some intuitive things that Jake brings out that sometimes it takes a long time tocoach that into somebody. He came here with that," Kelly said. "So I know as a staff, we werereally pleased with his performance against the Patriots, and we'll see, hopefully, if he can buildupon that."

Those instincts, which Knott feels is one of his real strengths, might just secure him a role onthis team.

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671 days ago

Reply -1

Whether it's as a second-team linebacker or a spark plug on special teams, Knott just wants tomake the Eagles.

And what's the first thing Knott would do after getting on the roster? Move out of the Marriott.

"The day of," Knott laughed, "I'll quickly find a place."

Both in Philadelphia and on the Eagles' roster.

Tags: Jake Knott, Philadelphia Eagles, nfl, Football, John McGonigal, Chip Kelly, Earl Wolff

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