PHILADELPHIA -- Death, taxes and Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews being among the final players off the field following each practice.

Those are the only guarantees in life.

Matthews had made a habit ever since his rookie season of spending extra time on the JUGS machine long after his teammates have returned to the locker room.

As you can see in the video above, Matthews' post-practice routine has become about working on making one-handed catches off the JUGS machine, typically trading reps with tight end Zach Ertz.

Once this season kicks off, Matthews could be taking on a much different role from simply being a slot receiver as had been the case for his first three NFL seasons under former head coach Chip Kelly.

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has said repeatedly that Matthews will have the opportunity to play outside this season as well as in the slot and has already made good on that promise at various times throughout OTAs, minicamp and the early training camp practices this summer.

"The only thing that's really different," Matthews said following practice and his post-practice regimen Monday when asked about playing slot versus outside, "is you don't have in the slot, the extra defender, which is the sideline. That's the biggest difference.

"Inside, if I do a hard stim inside, you don't know if I'm going to keep it inside or bring it all the way back across the field. By the end of the season last year, it was like triangles ... That safety had to be ready for me, that cornerback needed to cover me and there was usually a linebacker who was watching me, if I was ever shallow. Even in that sense, there's still a lot of room you can work with in the slot. There's more room than people think.

"When you're on the outside, that sideline's not moving. That defender's undefeated. Your release moves have to be that much better. You've gotta go, rip and then get upfield because the ball's coming out. The biggest difference is you have to be much more sudden. You have to come with a plan in the slot. Outside, you're usually the first time, if you get jammed and Sam sees it ... Play's over, he's going elsewhere. You have to be more sudden, more assertive getting off press and always finishing. That's the biggest thing."

Matthews finished last season with a career-best 85 receptions for 997 yards and eight touchdowns. Having the versatility of playing both positions, could help the Vanderbilt product eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, as could the extra time and work he puts in daily after practice.

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.