Davis Laments Hicks Loss

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Jordan Hicks' reaction after taking down Cowboys slot receiver Cole Beasley was all Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis needed to see.

“As soon as I saw the nature of the injury, I’ve seen enough of them,” Davis said Tuesday. “I’ve been around enough, especially having a background in linebacker coaching, so I kind of had an idea that’s what happened.”

What happened was the rookie star's season coming to an end due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Hicks was placed on injured reserve Monday after an MRI confirmed Davis' fears and the Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate closes up shop with two interceptions -- including a pick-six against Dallas on Sunday night -- a sack, a league-leading three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and Tony Romo's clavicle mounted on his den wall.

Pretty impressive stuff for a third-round pick expected to redshirt his first season and learn the NFL game under the auspices of veterans like DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks and Kiko Alonso.

(Listen to John McMullen discuss the loss of Jordan Hicks)

To give you an idea of just how many splash plays Hicks made in less than half a season on the field, he was only the fourth rookie in NFL history to put up those aforementioned numbers.

Hicks made the most of his opportunity when Alonso went down with a knee injury and Kendricks followed with a hamstring issue. And when they were back in the lineup, Ryans developed a hamstring injury of his own.

So, since Week 2, Hicks has been the best part of the planned three-man inside linebacker rotation even though the original path was for him to earn his NFL bones on special teams.

“Jordan did a great job of bringing himself into the conversation of the main rotation guys just through the circumstances of injuries,” Davis said.

Now, despite having the original plan of Ryans, Kendricks and Alonso finally in place, Davis is lamenting his latest injury loss and wondering how he can replace the production of Hicks.

“It’s a big hit,” Davis admitted.

“It’s a shame he only made it halfway though the season, but in the NFL that’s a bad part of what we deal with. Jordan will get it fixed and then we’ll move on and we’re back to the guys we originally started with. But it’s a shame for Jordan because he really was coming along strong and I think he would have been a (Defensive) Rookie of the Year candidate for sure.”

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973ESPN.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen