Hicks, Jones Expected to Miss Some Time
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - After being physically and emotionally battered in New Orleans on Sunday, the Eagles' injury report was a little better than expected by Monday afternoon.
During his weekly day-after press conference, Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson mixed in the good and bad. Center Jason Kelce (elbow) is “fine,” according to the coach after exiting the 48-7 setback after just six snaps and cornerbacks Avonte Maddox (knee) and Rasul Douglas (knee) were both listed as day-to-day.
In Pederson parlance that means there is at least a chance that Maddox or Douglas could play on Sunday against the New York Giants.
The same can not be said for middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (calf) and cornerback Sidney Jones (hamstring) who were labeled as week-to-week by the coach.
Long snapper Rick Lovato's status is uncertain, meanwhile, as he is in the concussion protocol.
Hicks is one of the Eagles' three-down players and Nigel Bradham will likely slide over into Hicks' role in the nickel defense, something Bradham thrived in when Hicks was down with a torn Achilles' last season with Kamu Grugier-Hill stepping into Bradham's spot.
In the base defense, linebackers coach Ken Flajole has intimated that Nate Gerry would be the next man up in the mike role.
Jones' latest hamstring injury comes on the heels off another one which caused him to miss a month although Pederson insisted it was a "new injury" and not an aggravation.
The Eagles have had a significant problem with soft-tissue injuries this season with Darren Sproles also being hampered by a hamstring injury in Week 1 and suffering a setback when poised to return.
Pederson, however, defended what is a new medical staff, insisting that "there's no problem and "the Eagles "make sure our players are 100 percent [before a return]."
With Jones likely out for the Giants and both Maddox and Douglas very iffy, the potential return of Jalen Mills from a foot injury is paramount. Philadelphia ended the loss in NOLA with Chandon Sullivan, who was elevated from the practice squad on Oct. 25, as the longest-tenured CB available to Jim Schwartz.
"You're only given so many roster spots, and it's kind of hard to go outside if you have to start letting guys go and all that," Pederson said. "Listen, we've got to get the next guy ready. It's always been that way around here. We're going to continue to do that. It's a little more sense of urgency for the ones that are playing."
-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen