Grymes Gets His Opportunity
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Aaron Grymes was making a strong run at a roster spot in the preseason when he experienced joy and pain during the same play in Pittsburgh.
The cornerback made a brilliant interception in the end zone while injuring the AC joint in his shoulder. What should have been the finish line to his standing on the 53-man roster turned into the reason Grymes was released.
By October the former CFL star was healthy again and re-signed to the practice squad once Ron Brooks went down with a season-ending quad injury and now the 25-year-old is set to be promoted and play on Sunday against Atlanta, according to head coach Doug Pederson.
Grymes fills the roster spot opened last week when the Eagles released wide receiver Josh Huff after his arrest for speeding over the Walt Whitman Bridge with marijuana and a firearm days earlier.
The move makes sense because both of the Eagles' starting corners -- Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll -- are dealing with hamstring issues, while safety Terrence Brooks has already been ruled out of Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury of his own. Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, meanwhile, is doubtful, meaning Philadelphia will likely be without two key special teams players.
Grymes can help at both corner and on special teams.
"He came back extremely healthy and in shape and it was good to see," Pederson said. "He's a smart kid and he really picked up where he left off there in training camp. [We're] very comfortable in making this decision."
Along with Terrence Brooks, starting left guard Allen Barbre (hamstring) was ruled for the Falcons game on Friday and veteran Stefen Wisniewski will again start in Barbre’s place.
Tight end Brent Celek (rib), defensive tackles Bennie Logan (groin) and Tyler Hart (ankle), and McKelvin are all listed as questionable.
Celek, Logan, who has missed the prior three games, and McKelvin, who struggled mightily against the Giants last week, have all said they will play at some point this week while Hart’s status is far more iffy.
"(McKelvin) felt the hammy again a little bit yesterday," Pederson said. "He's getting his treatment and everything, but you know, he's battling through it like a lot of guys are this time of year, so we just want to be precautionary with him."
If McKelvin can't go against Julio Jones and the Falcons' top-ranked passing offense, rookie Jalen Mills would start at cornerback.
Atlanta will also be missing three key players in the game, cornerback Desmond Trufant, who Jordan Matthews raved about earlier this week, along with running back Tevin Coleman and tight end Jacob Tamme.
-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen