Doug Pederson addressed the media Monday following the Eagles' loss in New Orleans and offered updates on the plethora of injuries suffered in Sunday's loss.
None of the six injuries from Sunday were season-ending. Center Jason Kelce left early with an elbow injury and will be fine, Pederson said. Cornerback Rasul Douglas and rookie safety Avonte Maddox both suffered knee injuries and Pederson said they would be day to day.
Long snapper Rick Lovato left the game in the fourth quarter with a head injury and is in the concussion protocol. Linebacker Jordan Hicks exited the game in the fourth quarter with a calf injury and cornerback Sidney Jones went out in the first quarter with a new hamstring injury. Pederson said both are week to week.
"It's a big list. Big list," Pederson said. "The injuries last year were like one guy at a position. This has devastated almost an entire position group. … We've just got to find a way."
The Eagles have dealt with injuries all season and these new ones will make it even harder for the defense. Pederson says it will be up to the guys on the roster to step in and keep a high level of play.
"Listen, we need to get the next guy ready," Pederson said. "It's always been that way around here and we're going to continue to do that and it's a little more sense of urgency for the ones that are playing."
On his takeaways from the game, Pederson said the offense scoring seven points was more disappointing to him than the defense allowing 48. The Saints' offensive unit may be the best in football and injuries in the Eagles' secondary didn't help. But the Eagles' offense was not in rhythm often and unable to respond.
"We had more plays out on the field that we left after watching the film today. That's the disappointing thing that we didn't do a better job offensively scoring more points in this game," Pederson said. "They're a good football team. And we knew we would have to score points."
After a tough loss, Pederson wasn't ready to cast doom and gloom. On Sunday, he told each of his players in the locker room to keep their heads up and get ready for a critical stretch of games against divisional opponents. On Monday, he said his message to Eagles fans is the same.
"First of all, you can't hang your head," Pederson said. "And if anybody does and anybody begins to sort of doubt, quite frankly you don't need them. Because we believe, and I believe in those players and I believe in those coaches.
"And it's a group that is hurting, quite frankly. And it's a group that will pick themselves up this week, they're not going to feel sorry for themselves, and we're going to get ready for the Giants."
