Philadelphia Eagles: Andre Dillard faces Jadeveon Clowney test

Andre Dillard is set to switch from left to right tackle in Week 12 in a crucial game for the Philadelphia Eagles, in which he will face Jadeveon Clowney.

Andre Dillard is already providing vital depth for the Philadelphia Eagles, who will have to use the rookie tackle on the right side of the offensive line in a crucial game with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Dillard, the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has already started three games at left tackle — the position he played in college — for Philadelphia this year to cover for an injury to Jason Peters, the Eagles showing no hesitation in putting him out there after a strong offseason for the rookie.

With right tackle Lane Johnson still in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury against the New England Patriots, Dillard will be asked to fill the void on the other edge of the line. The former Washington State lineman knows how difficult the switch will be, but does not appear too daunted by the prospect. Per NJ.com, he said in the Eagles locker room on Friday:

"“Think about it like this: you probably write with your right hand, right? Say, all of sudden, you had to write a big essay with your left hand right now. You think about how that would feel. It’s kind of like that. If you do one thing one way for 10 years like I have, then everything about you is geared toward that. If you flip it, your brain is sort of like ‘whoa’ but this week has been a good week of preparation.”"

The scarier thing about Sunday’s game for Dillard may be lining up against Seahawks pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who is coming off arguably the best game of his career in Seattle’s overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10.

Clowney finished with five tackles, five quarterback hits, one sack, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. His dominant display saw him credited with 11 pressures by Pro Football Focus (h/t Joe Fann of NBC Sports Northwest). He will undoubtedly be looking for a repeat performance as the Seahawks aim to keep pace with the 49ers in the race for the NFC West title and a first-round bye.

Dillard is a player the Seahawks will likely try to exploit, so he can expect to see plenty of Clowney in a game that is pretty much must-win for Philadelphia.

The 5-5 Eagles are only a game back on the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East, but another loss this weekend will leave them probably needing to win out to have even a slim hope of a Wild Card berth.

In Clowney, Dillard is set to face the most imposing test of his young career. For the sake of Philadelphia’s season, he must pass it.