NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After his first catch in nearly eight months -- a tough, 31-yarder down the left sideline on third down early in the second quarter -- Alshon Jeffery bent over on the sideline, hands on knees.

He moved over to the bench for a spell before willing himself up and back onto the field, only to double over again, his fatigue forcing him back to the sideline.

He had been battling a virus this week that forced him to miss two days of practice -- not exactly an ideal re-entry after a long layoff following offseason rotator cuff surgery. Jeffery pushed through it, though, and ended up having a big day in a 26-23 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, reaffirming his value to the offense in the process. He finished with eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, going over 100 receiving yards for the first time in an Eagles uniform.

"It was great to have Alshon back out there," quarterback Carson Wentz said. "A guy that can make contested catches, can make plays for you, can give the offense a spark. You saw that out there [Sunday]. We still just came up short, though."

Wentz had a rough day at the office. His offensive line struggled against Tennessee's pass rush, and especially against the blitz. He absorbed 11 hits, four sacks and ended up twisted and on his back way more than coach Doug Pederson could have felt comfortable with. What he did have going for him was an extra security blanket in the passing game.

That was evident on the 31-yarder, and then later on a 12-play, 75-yard drive in the third quarter. He found Jeffery for a 13-yard gain on third-and-6, and then for a 16-yard touchdown in the right corner of the end zone five plays later. Wentz lofted one up, and Jeffery leaped and muscled it in with a defender draped on his back. It was quintessential Jeffery, and the type of dynamic the Eagles were missing during the first three games of the season.

Jeffery came through again in overtime with a 14-yard catch and run that helped set up a field goal.

"He's a premier player. You see what he did off the rip, just coming into our game and the plays he made," running back Jay Ajayi said. "The presence he is on the outside, in the red zone. He's a special guy and we're definitely better with him on the field."

The band, as Pederson said recently, is slowly getting back together. The Eagles' offense was missing running backs Corey Clement (quad) and Darren Sproles (hamstring) on Sunday, but they should be on the field before long. With Jeffery and Ajayi (back fracture) both welcomed back into the fray Sunday, the offense that the Eagles originally envisioned is getting closer to becoming a reality.

That's good news for Wentz, who is coming off a serious multi-ligament knee injury. He has an obvious rapport with tight end Zach Ertz -- those two connected for 10 catches for 112 yards -- and rekindled his connection with the recently re-signed Jordan Matthews, hitting him for a 56-yard touchdown Sunday.

Now he has his top wideout in Jeffery back, which should mean good things for the 2-2 Eagles moving forward. They'll need it with a desperate Minnesota Vikings team on deck.