Jackson, Maclin Miss Eagles Practice With Injuries

The Eagles are without their top two wide receivers today due to injuries, as DeSean Jackson joined Jeremy Maclin on the sidelines. Jackson has a sore hamstring, according to head coach Andy Reid, while Maclin has a hip pointer and hip flexor strain. Maclin plans to test his hip today by running.

The injuries come at an already thin position as the Eagles have a roster spot dedicated to Riley Cooper, who is recovering from a broken collarbone.  The only fully healthy wide receivers on the Eagles roster are Jason Avant, Damaris Johnson and Mardy Gilyard. Johnson and Gilyard have combined for seven career receptions.

Prior to the news coming out that Jackson would miss practice, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said that losing Maclin would change things offensively.

“It will change it,” Mornhinweg said. “Maclin is a fine player, and we expect the next player to step up and play at a high level. That work load may be split just a little bit, and we’ll see as we go through the work week here.”

For the Eagles, losing their top two wide receivers could compound the struggles of quarterback Michael Vick, who Mornhinweg admitted might be trying too hard.

“Sure, and I think that is part of the rust,” Mornhinweg said. “I think he was trying to do a little much, and he knows that. I think you’re probably right there, yeah.”

If Vick was trying too much while surrounded by an impressive cast of offensive weapons, how will he deal with losing his two best targets in the passing game?

In the past, when the Eagles have lost one of their top wide receivers, Avant took over on the outside and then moved back into his normal role in the slot when the Eagles went with three wide receivers.  It seems logical to expect a similar plan this week.

Ryan Messick covers the Eagles for 97.3 ESPN FM.  Follow him on Twitter.