Eagles’ Rodgers Out Multiple Weeks

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — Many feared the worst when veteran tight end Richard Rodgers went down with a foot injury in Monday's joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens.

A disappointed Rodgers was carted off and Doug Pederson was there to console the Eagles' third tight end.

After going through further evaluation into Tuesday it seems as if Rodgers may have averted the worst-case scenario as the update provided by the organization was that he would be out "multiple weeks" with the foot injury.

The Eagles now have some difficult decisions to make when it comes to the final 53-man roster because of a number of injured players and NFL rules.

If you place someone on injured reserve in the preseason that means the player is done for the year unless an injury settlement is reached and the player is waived or released like the Eagles did with receiver Shelton Gibson on Wednesday.

There is a rule for two players to be designated to return after sitting out at least eight weeks but those options have to be on the original 53-man roster to start the season.

Ironically that was Rodgers' plight last season when he injured his knee in the preseason. Philadelphia put him on the 53 and then IR'd him before he ultimately returned late in the campaign.

This year the Eagles have multiple decisions to make with players that will be out for multiple weeks into the regular season including linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee), quarterback Nate Sudfeld (wrist) and cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc (foot), along with Rodgers. Of that group, only KGH is a sure thing to be carried on the original 53.

At tight end, Philadelphia projected to be very deep with Rodgers behind Pro Bowl selection Zach Ertz and emerging star Dallas Goedert. A competent in-line blocker and capable receiver with excellent hands but so-so speed, Rodgers was projected to be the next in line which is an important because the Eagles used 12 personnel (two tight ends) more than any other team in the NFL in 2018 and only figure to increase the use of that personnel grouping this time around.

Josh Perkins, an ex-college receiver who is more of a flex tight end, is the next man up on the depth chart, while former New York Giant Giant Will Tye, more of a traditional Y-back, and Deleware native Alex Ellis, an H-back type, are also on the 90-man roster.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen