Eagles Rule Maclin and Dunlap Out for Sunday

Coach Andy Reid announced Friday that WR Jeremy Maclin (hip), WR Riley Cooper (collarbone) and LT King Dunlap (hamstring) have been ruled out for Week 3 at Arizona.

Obviously the big news is Maclin.

“He didn’t really make any improvement from yesterday,” head coach Andy Reid said.  “We didn’t have him do much yesterday and he really didn’t make any improvements so we’re going to give him the week off here to make sure we get that thing back.”

This is a big loss for the Eagles, Maclin is becoming one of the most solid wide outs in the league.

“He’s a good football player. The other guys have practiced and they’re ready to go. I’ve always said that if somebody misses then it’s another man’s opportunity. I expect the other guys to step up and play well.”

So with Maclin out, who will take his snaps?

“We’re just mixing and matching so depending on what we want to do we’ve got people moving around a little bit,” explained Reid.

Many people around the team think that undrafted rookie free agent Damaris Johnson could see more time in the offense.

“It feels good just to be here,” Johnson said.  “Just to be in the NFL, just making plays. Just to be a part of the offense and just to be one of the key guys, one guy that everybody depends on, it just helps me out in the long run.”

The Eagles will also be without tackle King Dunlap which means for the first time this season, big free agent acquisition Demetress Bell with get the start at left tackle – and Andy Reid says he has confidence in him.

“Well he’s been there. He’s played before so this isn’t, as they say, his first rodeo. I expect him to go in and play, that’s what I expect him to do. I think he expects that out of himself.”

The team will also have a new starting center with Dallas Reynolds taking over for Jason Kelce who was lost for the season.  The Eagles will go with two new starters on a offensive line that has given up a league-high 14 quarterback hits already this season.

“I’ve got confidence in them but we’ve got to go do it,” Reid said.  “I want to see them go do it. I want to see them step up and play.”

You can listen to the Eagles and Cardinals Sunday at 4:05 on 97.3 ESPN