Fletcher Cox sat out the Eagles’ all this week, held out because of a calf injury.

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson was asked if Cox and reserve defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao would be available for Sunday’s game against the Los Angles Chargers.

“Both of those guys will be listed as out,” Pederson announced today.

Cox was chosen in the first round of the 2012 draft with the No. 12 overall pick. He signed a seven-year, $110.79 million deal, prior to last season and is a big reason why the Eagles defense has been able to get a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season.

"Yeah, somebody like Fletcher definitely draws a lot of double teams, people slide protection that direction, things of that nature," Pederson said.

"And so it can affect you a little bit. But at the same time, if teams now don't do that, it does free up some of our one-on-one match-ups with the defensive line. I think with our ends and getting pressure there sometimes can help sort of take a little pressure off -- even when Fletcher is in there, these guys have been able to take some pressure off of Fletcher, and the next guy, [DT] Beau Allen and [DT] Tim Jernigan and these guys are really going to have to step up and fill that gap, and they've done a nice job."

Cox has only missed one regular season game since entering the league back in 2012, and that was in his rookie season, and has played in 82-of-83 games overall.

The hope is that he will only miss one game, though some have suggested that this might be a multiple-week injury.

"He's actually feeling better today," Pederson said. "I don't think so, personally. When I mentioned day-to-day, it's really day-to-day with him, and he is feeling better, though, even today."

So how will the Eagles move forward without Cox and Vaeao?

"There's a lot of flexibility here," Pederson explained.  "We haven't made a final decision yet on that. We'll get through today's practice, have a few more conversations with [Defensive coordinator] Jim [Schwartz] and [Defensive line coach] Chris [Wilson], and go from there."

Schwartz indicated on Tuesday that Beau Allen would get the start if Cox could not make the trip.

Well, that would most likely be the next guy in there," Schwartz said.

Well Allen is a serviceable back-up, the team took a noticeable hit once Cox left the field last week, one area that they take a hit is in the pass rush.  Teams have to account for Cox and his pass rushing ability, which allows others along the defensive front to put pressure on the quarterback.


The Eagles host the Arizona Cardinals next week at Lincoln Financial Field.

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