PHILADELPHIA – On the surface, it might seem like the Eagles' two rookie playmakers on offense wouldn't have much of a role this season, considering that they're surrounded by a veteran core of players who know all about the rigors of an NFL season.

But Eagles coach Doug Pederson said they are no intentions of bringing running back Miles Sanders and wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside along slowly.

In fact, he said Wednesday the opposite might be true.

Sanders and Arcega-Whiteside, the Eagles' second-round picks this past spring, could have a significant role this Sunday when the Eagles open their season against Washington at Lincoln Financial Field.

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"(That's the) reason why we had training camp and really mixed these guys in with the (starters) and got them comfortable with Carson for this reason," Pederson said. "This is why you draft these guys. I don’t think you hold back. You plug them in and you go. They have to learn and there’s no better teacher than on game day.

"Just let them experience the emotion of the game, the feel of the game then go execute how they’re capable. They’re talented enough to be drafted where they were drafted so we’re going to use them."

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That, of course, is fine with Sanders and Arcega-Whiteside.

"It makes me feel good, honestly," Sanders said when told of Pederson's comments. "It just proves that I came to training camp and showed what I can do, and showed them that I’m reliable out there, that I know what I’m doing out there. I’m playing faster because I know what I’m doing. I’m ready. I’m ready to go out there and play."

But the Eagles do have options, and good ones at that.

At running back, Sanders will be in a rotation with Jordan Howard (who has the third most rushing yards in the NFL since the start of the 2016 season), Darren Sproles and Corey Clement.

At wide receiver, Arcega-Whiteside will have to work in with the trio of Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor. There are also tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.

That's why Pederson said he is "excited" to have all of these "toys" to play with.

Then he added with a laugh: "I don’t really categorize them as toys. They’re well-oiled machines. I think having some flexibility, particularly in the passing game. That’s the thing we have to be careful of – run, pass, who’s in the game?

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"So, just being able to look at your call sheet, and being able to dial one up, does give you a little bit of comfort that way. But at the same time, if we’re not executing, it doesn’t matter."

The Eagles expect it to matter.

So Arcega-Whiteside, for one, is trying to keep everything under control, treating his NFL debut like any other game.

"At the end of the day, it’s just playing football and that’s something I’ve done for 18 years, since I was a little kid," he said. "Nothing changes, except it’s a bigger stage with different teammates ... "It’s no different except a lot of people watching."

Sanders said once the moment will sink in once he takes that first hit from Washington's defense.

Wentz knows all about this opening-game feelings. He went through it as a rookie in 2016, having found out eight days before the opener that he would start after the Eagles traded Sam Bradford to Minnesota in return for a first-round draft pick that became Derek Barnett.

"I’m excited for them to finally get their feet wet and get a real taste of the NFL," Wentz said. "I remember my first time playing as a rookie, and just all the excitement and emotion that went into that. I’m excited for them to experience that. I think they’ll help this offense tremendously. Will it be Week 1? We’ll find out."

"But I think they’ll both bring an element – Miles to the running game, a dynamic playmaker that just looks different back there. I’m excited to see him get the ball in his hands. JJ, just big playability, the big frame and catch radius that he presents. I’m just excited for both of those guys to get out there."

But Sanders and Arcega-Whiteside won't be essential to the Eagles' offense as rookies. That, perhaps, is the difference from other teams and other Eagles seasons.

After all, the Eagles added players like Jackson on offense, fortified the defense and made sure Wentz was ready to return to his form of 2017 before two straight season-ending injuries.

So, will the offense look different this season?

"I don’t think we ever try to reform our identity," Wentz said. "We’re always going to try to put our playmakers in the best position to succeed. Adding an element like DeSean, who can really stretch the field, I feel like we’ve talked about it a lot this offseason, but I think it opens up so much more in the run game and the underneath passing game."

The Eagles are looking forward to counting the ways.

Eagles getting healthy

The Eagles released their first injury report of the season, and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, coming back from offseason foot surgery, was a full participant in practice after not practicing at all the past few weeks during the preseason.

Other full participants included linebacker Nigel Bradham, also coming off surgery that kept him out of all four preseason games; cornerback Ronald Darby; and Jackson, who broke his finger last week in practice. Also, right tackle Lane Johnson (knee) and tight end Dallas Goedert (calf), who suffered injuries in training camp, were full participants.

Limited participants were right guard Brandon Brooks (Achilles), DE Derek Barnett (shoulder) and C Jason Kelce (rest).

LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee) T Jordan Mailata (back) and QB Nate Sudfeld (wrist) did not practice.

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