On the very first play of the Eagles' season, Corey Clement raced down the field on kickoff coverage and made the tackle on Washington's Bashaud Breeland.

Clement, an undrafted free agent playing in his first NFL game, got up and pumped his fist, then went to the bench.

That was pretty much the extent of Clement's contribution in his debut.

Clements and other rookies seemed fine with that. They came into the season with a veteran-laden team with playoff aspirations, and it's hard to rely on rookies for a playoff run.

But that has started to change, mostly out of necessity because of injuries, but also because of their rapidly improving play. Now, many of them are getting the chance to play significant roles even though the Eagles have the best record in the NFL at 6-1 heading into their game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

In the Eagles' seasoning opening 30-17 win on Sept. 10, Clement didn't get into the game on offense. He just played on special teams.

"It was a great feeling," Clement said. "I wanted to make an impact and I did on my very first play."

Clement was one of only three rookies — first-round pick Derek Barnett and fourth rounder Mack Hollins were the others — to dress that day from a class that included Clement and the Eagles' eight draftees.

None of them started, and Hollins only got in for five snaps on offense in addition to special teams. Barnett played 41 percent of the snaps that day but didn't make much of an impact.

Among the Eagles rookies sitting out that day were second-round pick Sidney Jones (injury), third-round pick Rasul Douglas (coach's decision), fourth-round pick Donnel Pumphrey (coach's decision), fifth-round picks Shelton Gibson (coach's decision) and Nate Gerry (practice squad), and sixth-round pick Elijah Qualls (coach's decision).

The rookies are now stepping up.

"Hell, no, I ain’t never looked at nothing like a redshirt year," Douglas said. "I just looked at it like keep getting better and keep working. Things happen. You have to be ready."

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Added Hollins: "The rookie class that came in, our idea was always to contribute as much as we can and help this team win. No matter what that was, whether it was on the practice squad or being inactive and on the sideline helping guys out or cheering guys on, or playing and getting snaps. That's how we approached it."

All except Jones (still injured), Pumphrey (injured reserve) and Gibson (inactive for every game) have contributed.

Even Gerry might get a chance to play on defense now that middle linebacker Jordan Hicks is out for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles. Gerry was promoted from the practice squad last Monday and played on special teams against Washington.

Jones, meanwhile, could return sometime in the next month or so.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson said some of the rookies' rapid development could have something to do with them staying after practice to work individually with some of the assistant coaches. Those workouts typically consist of the deep reserves, players like Gibson, Gerry, Qualls and the practice squad players.

"We spend time with our young players in our developmental program on Wednesdays and Fridays, getting them a little extra time to develop their skills and their fundamentals and their footwork," Pederson said.

The reliance on the rookies began in Week 2 against Kansas City. Starting cornerback Ronald Darby suffered a dislocated ankle against Washington, and his backup, Jaylen Watkins, left the game against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury.

Douglas replaced Watkins and immediately matched up against Chiefs' receiver Tyreek Hill. Douglas has played regularly ever since and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

"I wasn’t nervous. I was ready to play," Douglas said. "I was sitting on the sidelines just waiting. I wanted to get in."

Qualls, a defensive tackle, began playing in Week 2 with an injury to Destiny Vaeao. He stayed in the defensive line rotation when Fletcher Cox missed two games with a calf injury. Qualls only played about 20 percent of the snaps during those four games. He hasn't played in the last two games with Cox, Beau Allen and Vaeao healthy.

Hollins hasn't gotten much more than a handful or so of plays per game, but he has made them count. Hollins has six catches for 134 yards, including his first career TD, a 64-yard reception from quarterback Carson Wentz last Monday night.

Hollins' six receptions have come on six targets, and five have gone for first downs.

"That has to be your mindset from the beginning, that this is the NFL and this is a tough game and guys are going to get hurt, and you have to always be ready," Hollins said. "That’s what I’ve been taught and said since the beginning. You need that mentality that you have to be prepared because you can go in for plays that aren’t designed for you. Or plays that you haven’t practiced all week an all of a sudden you’re the guy who has to do it.

"It has to be seamless. It can’t be a dropoff where it’s like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know how to do this.’ You have to be there mentally as much as physically."

Clement has found this out as well.

Clement got his first NFL carries in Week 3 against the Giants, the first game since veteran Darren Sproles was lost for the season with a torn ACL and fractured arm. In the following game, against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Eagles turned to Clement to twice convert 3rd-and-short situations late in the fourth quarter.

Clement succeeded each time and the Eagles held the ball for the final 6 minutes, 44 seconds to secure their 26-17 win.

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"We’re trying to make a statement for this class coming in," Clement said. "Every time we’ve been asked to do something, we’ve never questioned that. We’re here for a reason. We’re here to fill a role that was probably empty last season. We gotta leave them no questions that they have the right players doing this."

But Clement was even more impressive last Monday night, catching a 9-yard TD pass from Wentz. He caught the ball over his shoulder as Wentz threw off-balance while getting hit. Somehow, Clement caught the ball while keeping both feet in bounds as he contorted the rest of his body out of bounds.

Clement has never been known for his receiving skills as a running back.

"That catch was a great catch," Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. "It wasn't a good catch. It was a great catch, just how he got his feet down, how he adjusted to the ball. [It was] not a catch that you would have expected him to make.

"So a credit to him, and Corey is just a football player. I mean, that's what we've seen from day one with him. He loves ball, just love seeing him on the field. That was a big play."

Barnett is starting to make his share of big plays, too. He had just 0.5 sacks through the first six games. Against Washington, Barnett had two sacks. He still hasn't started a game. But for the first time, he played more snaps than Vinny Curry, who has started ahead of Barnett at right defensive end. Barnett played 56 percent of the snaps against Washington, the most playing time he has had this season.

Still, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was quick to downplay Barnett's accomplishments by noting that Barnett beat tight end Jordan Reed for his first sack, and a backup offensive lineman for the second. That could be to keep the rookie motivated.

"I don't want to give any gold stars for beating pass-receiving tight ends in pass rush," Schwartz said. "That being said, we're all very pleased with where Derek is, and we're happy with the path he's on."

Barnett said it was only a matter of time.

"Everybody has been telling me to just keep grinding and they are going to come," Barnett said about sacks. "We all come to work with the same mindset that we’re going to try to get better at practice. They all just say to keep on working and eventually it is going to break.”

For Barnett and the other rookies, it's starting to break. And it's happening while the Eagles are continuing to win.

"That’s why they brought us in here," Douglas said. "The GM and all the guys who decided to pick us, they brought us in for a reason. We’re just trying to contribute as much as we can to be part of something special here.

"That’s all we’ve been trying to do is make a play. We knew our number was going to be called at some time. We were just making sure we were on our game so when it does get called, we’re ready to play."

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.