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Roleplay Off the Field Helps the Eagles on It

The Philadelphia Eagles’ veterans and newcomers have meshed into a championship contender thanks in part to their bonding over video game roleplay. “It’s kind of like our secret sauce,” one player said.

Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson sitting next to his gaming setup, where he spends a lot of time playing a roleplay version of Grand Theft Auto V with teammates.Credit...Desiree Rios/The New York Times

PHILADELPHIA — When safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson came to the Eagles in a trade with the New Orleans Saints a week before the regular season, there was one thing he struggled to understand about his new team.