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Jordan Mailata became the latest Australian to debut in the NFL when he lined up for Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener against Washington.
Jordan Mailata finally made his NFL debut but it was a tough initiation for the former South Sydney rugby league junior.
The hulking Mailata, who is 203cm and weighs 156kg, waited more than two years to take a snap in the big time after being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2018 draft - signed on a four-year $A3.6million deal.
Injury ruined the Sydney-born Mailata's hopes of playing in 2019 but the 23-year-old did not have to wait very long in 2020 and was on the field in week one.
When Philadelphia rookie Jack Driscoll was injured in Monday's clash with Washington at FedExField in Maryland, Mailata replaced him in the offensive line at right tackle.
Mailata's former NRL club was quick to congratulate him on his achievement, a remarkable feat considering he had never played a game of American football being before drafted.
"Congratulations to this 156kg wrecking ball and former Rabbitohs Under 20s player, @jordan_mailata who made his long awaited NFL debut for the Philadelphia Eagles!" South Sydney tweeted.
However, an undermanned Eagles line-up without three-time Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Brooks and three-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson through injury ensured Mailata's task would be challenging.
And it proved to be as Washington's defence overpowered Philadelphia's offence, resulting in Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz being sacked eight times and throwing two interceptions.
"Jack (Driscoll) battled his arse off. When he went down, Mailata battled his arse off," Eagles centre Travis Kelce said after the match.
After leading 17-0 and seemingly on their way to an away win to start the season, Philadelphia were run down with Washington prevailing 27-17.
"It was a very up-and-down performance for the offensive line, very poor in the run game," Kelce said.
"We gotta be better up front. No excuses."
Coach Doug Pederson admitted the instability up front put Philadelphia in a difficult spot.
"Anytime you disrupt your offensive line and lose some continuity, it's going to affect you a little bit," he said."
"This front was a really good test for our guys, valuable experience."
In week two, Philadelphia host the Los Angeles Rams next Monday at 3am AEST.
