ARLINGTON, Texas – Injuries, they just keep a comin' for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
By the time the first half ended on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, the Eagles lost three more key contributors – cornerback Sidney Jones (hamstring), running back Corey Clement (knee), and defensive end Josh Sweat (ankle).
Only Jones returned to the game, in the third quarter, and was victimized for a touchdown pass to wide receiver Amari Cooper before leaving for the remainder of the game.
"It's tough, and I'm frustrated with my hamstring," Jones said. "The hamstring is frustrating. It lingers. I wasn't close to 100 percent out there, but it was do or die so I fought and gave it my best effort."
Adding in the fact that the defense was already missing tackle Tim Jernigan (back spasms), middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (calf), and safety Avonte Maddox (knee), coordinator Jim Schwartz had a challenge just making sure he had enough capable bodies on the field.
The Eagles' defense has been ravaged by injuries. The secondary, which opened the season with Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod at safety and Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills, and Jones at cornerback, has only Jenkins standing. The Eagles have used 13 defensive backs this season and played the second half of Sunday's game with Jenkins and Corey Graham at safety, Rasul Douglas, Jones, De'Vante Bausby, and Cre'Von LeBlanc at cornerback. At linebacker, Nigel Bradham played the middle position flanked by Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nathan Gerry. Along the defensive line, the Eagles leaned heavily on Haloti Ngata and Treyvon Hester, along with Fletcher Cox at tackle and rotated Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett, and Chris Long at end. Bennett played inside as well.
That's not exactly what the team had in mind entering the season. But the defense has end Derek Barnett, McLeod, Darby, and Mills on Injured Reserve. Hicks has been out three games with a calf injury. Jones has missed four full games and parts of three others with his hamstring injury. Jernigan has played in just one game after suffering an offseason injury. Bradham, who was suspended for the opening game against Atlanta for an off-the-field incident two years ago, is playing with a broken thumb, as is Grugier-Hill.
Offensively, the Eagles lost top running back Jay Ajayi to a knee injury in the Minnesota game back in October, has been without speed receiver Mike Wallace since Week 2. Left guard Isaac Seumalo left the game in the third quarter with a pectoral injury.
The injury woes continue, one week after the next.
Take a look at the best photos from the Eagles' game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
S Deiondre' Hall
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
DE Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
QB Carson Wentz and DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
LB LaRoy Reynolds
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
P Cameron Johnston
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
DE Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
LB D.J. Alexander
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
DE Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
S Deiondre' Hall
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
S Corey Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
S Corey Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
LB LaRoy Reynolds
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2018
