PHILADELPHIA -- After Eagles defensive end Steven Means felt the ball graze his wrist during the second quarter of a 31-3 win over the Bears on Sunday, he raised both hands in the air, jumped and pointed to the sky.

Means knew he altered the trajectory of the punt. And that moment, it hit home that he had carved a tangible imprint on a game after sitting on the sideline as a healthy inactive player each week since Oct. 12. A rush of elation followed, leaving the fifth-year defensive end waving his arms and, he said, pointing to the sky to thank God for the accomplishment.

The punt wound up sputtering 44 yards after Means placed a hand on it -- and returner Kenjon Barner pulled Jaylen Watkins away from danger -- to give the Eagles possession at the Bears' 45-yard line. That set up a Jake Elliott field goal and kept Philadelphia rolling to its ninth straight win.

For Means, the play carried significance. A crowded roster boxed him out of the lineup in the previous four games, and he was itching to make a play that caught the attention of his coaches and teammates against Chicago.

Means pressured Bears punter Pat O'Donnell into a shabby kick after the Bears' first drive of the game, and finally got his hands on the kick inside Chicago's end zone on that play early in the second quarter.

Means said he didn't even expect to have a chance to block that one. The Eagles initially planned to set up a return rather than have rushers try to bulldoze their way toward O'Donnell, Means said, but a few seconds before the punt team trotted onto the field, special teams coach Dave Fipp walked over to No. 51.

According to Means, Fipp told him that with the Bears punting from their own end zone, he wanted to tweak the strategy.

"I wasn't even supposed to be inside," Means said. "Right before the play, coach Fipp was like, 'Hey, I want you to go inside, beat the guy and get a block.' After that, God just put me in the right position. I didn't even beat the guy really. I just got my hand up and got a piece."

Means made the play by penetrating the Bears' line and reaching his massive arm over Chicago inside linebacker Christian Jones. It worked out for Philadelphia.

In a sense, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz foreshadowed the performance last week. Schwartz discussed Means' intense practice habits Tuesday, noting that teammates and coaches have long lauded him for pushing others with relentless energy.

"The way he prepares, he's not doing that to help [right tackle] Lane Johnson prepare. He's doing it to get himself ready," Schwartz said. "And you know, there's going to come a time when he's going to have go out there. ... Steven's a reliable player, he's trusted in the locker room, he works extremely hard and he'll perform well when his time comes."

Means had a small slice of opportunity Sunday. With injuries to defensive tackle Beau Allen and tight end Trey Burton, an extra spot on the 46-man active roster opened, and Philadelphia decided to have Means suit up for the first time since a win over the Panthers in mid-October.

With four healthy defensive ends in front him, Means only played six defensive snaps, mostly in garbage time. But he was on the field for 15 special teams plays, and he made them count by constantly pressuring O'Donnell.

"I was happy Steven Means got out there and got his job done," defensive end Brandon Graham said. "He gave me the energy today. We feed off each other."

Those type of comments regarding Means are common. Offensive linemen praise the pass rusher for the challenge he provides each week in practice, fellow defensive lineman admire his toughness and Schwartz points to him as an example of a player who earns respect even without regular playing time.

Means said he isn't sure whether he plays harder on special teams snaps than anyone else, but he does know this: Surefire playing time isn't waiting for him next week or anytime after that, so he doesn't want to let any play go to waste.

"I take them as serious as I possibly can," Means said. "Even in practice, I take them very, very seriously, because I know my next rep isn't promised."

-- @AaronKazreports