183445030.jpg

Safety Earl Wolff did not sound surprised that Nate Allen was ahead of him on the depth chart

((Photo by Elsa/Getty Images))

Before the media was even let out on the field to watch the Eagles practice on Thursday, head coach Chip Kelly made one thing clear about the safety spot next to Malcom Jenkins.

"Nate (Allen) is the first guy up," said Kelly. "Earl (Wolff) is in running with the second group right now."

A decision Wolff didn't sound too upset about.

"Not at all, honestly," Wolff said on if he was surprised to be a backup. "Nate played pretty good (last season). I wasn't mad when I saw his name above mine. He deserved it. I didn't deserve to be the No. 1 guy."

A fifth-round pick out of North Carolina State last year, Wolff began the season as a backup to Patrick Chung before being inserted into the starting lineup after Chung went down with an injury. Wolff started six games, registering 45 tackles and one interception before suffering a knee injury against the Green Bay Packers.

Although the injury at the time was not thought to be serious, it basically ended Wolff's season, as he played just four snaps in the final seven games of the season.

"I didn't end the year I wanted to, moving full speed," Wolff said.

With the disappointing end to an otherwise promising rookie campaign now behind him, Wolff said he is ready to win back a starting job.

"Every day I come out here and give it my all," Wolff said of his competition with Allen. "We have a great friendship and we both know it's going to come down to the preseason. We are both going to give it our all."

Kelly has shown in the past that the best man will play on his team, meaning Wolff will be given every chance to win the job. With Allen on a one-year deal, it would help the Eagles in the long run if Wolff were to win the job, as it would give them a young player at the position to build around.

So although he is with the second team now, chances are Wolff will be given a chance to show what he can do with the first team. And when he does?

"May the best man win," finished Wolff.

Follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks