A lively locker room had one sour spot: Earl Wolff's locker.
Just one week after making his first start of the season, Wolff was inactive for the Eagles' 45-21 pounding of the Panthers (see Instant Replay) on Monday night, and he didn't say why.
"I really don't know. All I do is work every day. I don't complain. I don't say too much," said Wolff, who wasn't surprised by the decision.
"I could kind of see how it was going throughout the week. I could kind of feel it."
It's the first time the second-year safety has been inactive when healthy (he missed five games late last season and Week 3's win over Washington with a knee injury). Nate Allen returned from a hamstring injury and had one of the Eagles' three interceptions. The Eagles' defense was devastating, recording five takeaways and nine sacks (see story). Activated in Wolff's place was safety Chris Prosinski, a standout special teamer who was signed last week to fill injured DeMeco Ryans' spot on the roster.
Last week against Houston, Wolff made his seventh career start and didn't miss a snap. Filling in for Allen, Wolff played all 60 of the Eagles' defensive snaps and was credited with a pair of solo tackles. He was beaten by DeAndre Hopkins for a 7-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Defensive coordinator Billy Davis last week said Wolff "had a nice start" and had to overcome "a little rust" but played "about as expected for not having any game experience this season."
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Head coach Chip Kelly last Monday said Wolff "did a decent job" but added he has much "to continue to work on" and "for his first extended play, I thought he was OK."
Wolff, who played 11 games last season as a rookie, said he has a good understanding of the defense.
"Definitely," he said. "Last week I played, there weren't any mental errors. Anything."