Philadelphia Eagles News

Injury Woes Mount For Eagles

Nov 18, 2018 at 08:44 PM

Dave Spadaro

NEW ORLEANS – And the injuries keep coming. And coming. And forcing the Eagles to reach deep into their roster to put players at positions they just don't play. On Sunday in a 48-7 defeat to the Saints, the Eagles lost three more players by the end of the first quarter, further depleting a team that already has an all-star cast of players sidelined.

Center Jason Kelce went out two drives into the game with an elbow injury and did not return. Battling injuries all season but still able to play, Kelce gave way in this one to Stefen Wisniewski, who played center the remainder of the game.
Rookie safety Avonte Maddox, one of the bright spots in this struggling season, suffered a knee injury in the first quarter as he leaped for a Drew Brees pass and appeared to come down on teammate Sidney Jones' shoe in the back of the end zone. Maddox immediately grabbed his right knee and rolled around in agony. The Eagles' athletic training staff attended to Maddox, who limped off the field and underwent more attention in the blue medical tent on the sideline. Maddox did not return and was replaced by Corey Graham and Tre Sullivan at safety and by Cre'Von LeBlanc at slot cornerback when the Eagles used nickel personnel against Brees and the potent New Orleans passing game.
Jones, out the previous three games with a hamstring injury, started at the left cornerback position and clutched at his right hamstring late in the first quarter defending a deep pass to wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith. Jones appeared to lose his footing a bit on the play and then grabbed at his hamstring before bouncing up. Jones was then in and out of the game for the remainder of the first half. Jones did not start in the second half, instead standing on the sidelines with his helmet in his hands. Jones was announced on the in-game injury report in the third quarter as questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas limped off the field with a knee injury early in the fourth quarter and was evaluated on the sideline. He did not return to the game.
Long snapper Rick Lovato was taken to the locker room for evaluation of a head injury early in the fourth quarter and did not return.
Midway through the fourth quarter, middle linebacker Jordan Hicks limped off the field with a calf injury.

With Jones out, the Eagles used Chandon Sullivan and De'Vante Bausby at the cornerback positions, with LeBlanc inside. Bausby, added to the practice squad on November 5, was promoted to the active roster on Saturday, the day before the game. The Eagles placed Ronald Darby on Injured Reserve to make room for Bausby.

About that Injured Reserve list … it's a doozy. It includes starters (in alphabetical order) running back Jay Ajayi, defensive end Derek Barnett, Darby, safety Rodney McLeod, and wide receiver Mike Wallace. Also on the list: wide receiver Mack Hollins, who was expected to contribute to the offense, and linebacker Paul Worrilow, who would have competed for a starting job on the weak side in the defense.

Running back Darren Sproles missed his ninth consecutive game with a hamstring injury and defensive tackle Tim Jernigan remains on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list after suffering an offseason injury. He has been practicing with the team and could be active for Sunday's game against the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Cornerback Jalen Mills remains out with a foot injury. He did not practice during the week preceding the game in New Orleans.