When Dallas Goedert missed time due to injury in previous seasons, the Eagles’ tight end production would fall off a cliff.

Not now, not after Goedert missed the last two games and all but three snaps against the Browns when he injured his hamstring three weeks ago. Grant Calcaterra was ready this time.

It took two seasons to sink in, but Calcaterra has been a big, solid pass catcher in the run blocking game with Jack Stoll in the run game since Goedert got hurt. The former 2022 sixth-round pick (198th overall), who sat out at one point due to concussions, is averaging 14.6 yards per catch on 12 receptions this season.

“At the end of the day, I just try to stick to my process,” he said. “I think naturally with more opportunities you have more opportunities to shine.”

In the last three games without Goedert, Calcaterra had eight catches for 130 yards, including three for 58 in the Eagles’ 37-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8. In his previous two seasons, he had just nine catches for 120 yards. combined.

“Grant knows very well how to run routes and how to get open at the top of the route,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. “I think he really has good quickness to get in and out of breaks and create separation. Then I think he has really good hands to finish the catch.

“I think he’s sneaky. He’s been in Dallas for so long and sees Dallas finish with the ball in his hands. I think what we saw in Grant as well was that ability to get the ball in his hands and finish the run.

Sirianni highlighted the big reception Calcaterra made against the Browns when he turned a short pass into a long 34-yard run.

“He’s hard to beat,” Sirianni said. “He plays mean, he plays physical. He’s a tough guy.

The Eagles return to practice Wednesday to prepare for a visit by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday (4:05 p.m./CBS). We should know more about Goedert’s return this week, depending on his availability for practice.

If he does, it won’t hurt the offense at all. If he doesn’t, Calcaterra and Stoll will take care of it.

“Grant has a great sense of space,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “He has a great understanding of the passing game. Hats off, he’s been coming here since the fall of Dallas.

“For him to be able to handle the workload, the volume that he put into the running game, he did a tremendous job. And then still be viable in the passing game. He seems to make big plays in critical moments, and he’s very reliable, and we feel very fortunate to have these tight ends that we have.

Against the Bengals, Calcaterra’s three catches were all crucial in touchdowns.

In the second quarter, his 19-yard catch on second-and-10 helped lead to a touchdown drive to close the second quarter and forge a 10-10 halftime tie.

In the third quarter, his 28-yard grab on first-and-10 from the 50 left to the TD put the Eagles ahead, 17-10.

Finally, in the fourth, his 11-yard run on second-and-10 helped keep the game going for a 34-17 lead.

“I definitely focus on pass catching, but I think I have more of a pass catching background,” said Calcaterra, who went to Oklahoma and spent a season with Jalen Hurts before being transferred and finished at SMU. “I played receiver growing up, but of course I work on it in the offseason.”

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