Linebacker Akeem Jordan suffered a hyperextended knee on a special teams play late in Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Andy Reid said that Jordan wouldn't practice on Wednesday and is mixing in a number of different looks in practice should Jordan not be able to play this Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
"We've got a variety of things we're messing with there," Reid said. "It just depends on personnel groups."
Jordan was replaced on Sunday night by Tracy White at the weakside linebacker position. White finished with two tackles on defense and each of them displayed his quickness. After subbing in for Jordan, Dallas running back Marion Barber took a handoff on a second-and-4 and White flung around the edge from the backside, dove and wrapped up the rugged Barber after a short gain.
A seven-year veteran out of Howard, White leads the Eagles with 200 special teams production points. White was inserted into the defense's nickel package starting in Week 3 of this season against the Chiefs. White's other tackle came late in the first half and saved a potential touchdown. The Eagles utilized a zone blitz. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo hit the hot read in wide receiver Patrick Crayton. White was supposed to be there initially, but he accidentally ran into stand up end Chris Clemons. White still recovered in time to keep Crayton from scoring six with a diving tackle.
With his expansive role on special teams and as a nickel linebacker, White doesn't expect to work in the base 4-3 against the Chargers even with the injury to Jordan.
"We have a couple of different guys playing different positions. My role as last week is still the same," White said. "It's a week-to-week thing with Coach (Sean) McDermott and the packages we have in. I'm still in the nickel package. I'm looking to make the same plays I made last week. I had a couple of mistakes, but we correct them throughout the week so I'm looking to do the same thing."
Before he joined the Eagles in 2008, White spent the previous two-plus seasons with the Packers. It was White who recovered a punt fumbled by Greg Lewis in the end zone for a touchdown at Lambeau Field when the Eagles and the Packers played in 2007.
White acknowledges he was signed by the Eagles to play special teams, but there was one play in the preseason which showcased what he could do on defense. Against the Colts, White intercepted a Curtis Painter pass intended for Jacob Tamme at the Eagles' 1-yard line.
"I think I'm good in coverage. I used what I learned throughout the years playing," White said of that preseason pick. "I think it was a great play. That was probably one of the big plays that got me my opportunity."
No matter what his role is on defense this Sunday, White will continue to do the one thing that he has his entire career - work hard.
"It took me a couple years to get adjusted (to not playing defense). It's frustrating at first, but I know my role and I just focus on what I have to do to help the team," White said. "They brought me in to play special teams. I know it's a long road to get on defense, but I work hard and show them what I've got."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 2:57 p.m., November 11
