In the last few weeks, the dialogue around Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey has shifted toward him missing the first few games of the regular season instead of being ready to go for Week 1 action.

Head coach Doug Pederson has weighed in on the situation once again stating that Jeffrey is considered to be “week to week” heading into the season opener, according to Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic.

These comments only further clarify that Jeffrey could be out of the mix for the first couple of games to begin the regular season as he continues his recovery from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. When he had initially undergone the operation, there was hope that he could be back on the field for the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, but that window has shifted back a bit over the last couple of weeks.

It was likely expected given the type of injury he is currently recovering from that takes at least three months to fully heal. What should be noted is that Pederson did state that Jeffrey has been catching balls as part of the rehab process to help get his shoulder back into shape. His absence from the field does leave a significant void in the passing game as he proved to be a major asset for the Eagles as a legitimate red-zone target and deep-ball threat.

Although his production was down from his usual numbers, Jeffery proved to be a vital part of the passing game that saw him play a huge part in the playoffs recording 12 catches for 219 receiving yards with three touchdowns in the three games played. The team will likely lean more heavily on Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz along with wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Mike Wallace to carry the load in his absence.