Head Coach Nick Sirianni addressed the media for the first time since the NFL announced that the Eagles' Wild Card Round showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be next Sunday at 1 PM.
From an injury standpoint, Sirianni was optimistic regarding the running back situation. Miles Sanders missed time down the stretch with a fractured hand, while Jordan Howard dealt with a stinger.
"We're hopeful for Miles this week. Again, that's why we didn't put him on (Injured Reserve)," Sirianni said. "I think we'll have our full stable of backs and really, really excited about where our backfield is. I think a lot of teams in this league would like the depth that we have at this position."
Unfortunately, the Eagles will be without tight end Tyree Jackson, who suffered a knee injury Saturday night against the Cowboys. Sirianni said that Richard Rodgers will be elevated from the practice squad.
"He brings good veteran leadership," Sirianni said of Rodgers, a seventh-year veteran who has played in 10 career playoff games. "He brings good ability to block not only at the first level, but at the second level as well. He'll be the one that's elevated up and ready to go."
Sirianni said that the coaching staff spent Sunday with "a lot of the focus" on the Buccaneers since that was the team that the Eagles were most likely mathematically to go against. The Eagles had a plan if the late afternoon games sent the Eagles on a different path for the postseason.
When the Eagles begin practicing later this week, Sirianni will maintain a similar schedule as he has in recent weeks. He does not envision the players putting the pads back on at practice.
"I don't think it's wise at this point in the season with the wear and tear on their bodies to go back in the pads. That's not something that we're going to explore," he said.
Sirianni is the only one of the seven first-year head coaches to reach the playoffs. When told of the accomplishment on Monday, Sirianni preferred to keep the focus on his team's preparation for a date with the defending Super Bowl Champions.
"All I care about is that our team is successful, our team is ready to play each week," Sirianni said. "I haven't thought too much about that. I'm just thankful that we're in the position we're in right now to go down to Tampa and play a really good team in the playoffs and prepare for that."
