Report: Jason Peters Wants More Money to Play Left Tackle
The Eagles offensive line took another blow this week, losing starting left tackle Andre Dillard for the season with a torn biceps injury, head coach Doug Pederson confirmed the injury Saturday.
"Yes, Andre Dillard suffered the injury last week in practice and definitely -- it's unfortunate," Pederson confirmed. "He had a tremendous off-season. He was having a really good camp for us, coming in healthy, strong. It's unfortunate, but he'll get better. He'll heal from this and be ready to go."
The team was already entering the season short-handed on the offensive line, having already lost starting right guard Brandon Brooks for the season with a Achilles injury so they brought in their former left tackle Jason Peters to replace him.
Now it appears they Peters is in the mix to move back to his familiar left tackle spot, but he is not the only option per Pederson.
"In regard to left tackle, Jason Peters is obviously in the conversation," Pederson admitted. "We do have some young players, Jordan Mailata, Matt Pryor, Jack Driscoll, who's a rookie obviously but playing some tackle for us. But we've got a couple of guys now including Jason Peters that we want to look at over at the left side. J.P. has done an outstanding job, coming in, playing the right guard spot. We're going to continue to look at him there, as well, but we have some options. We've got a couple of days here before, one, roster cuts, but obviously getting into the regular season."
While Pederson said the team will continue to look at Peters at right guard, its hard to imagine him playing there with Dillard done for the season. However, there could be a reason that's the case according to a report from Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquire.
According to the report, Peters has asked for more money if in fact the Eagles want to move him back to the left tackle position.
Peters wants to be paid like a starting left tackle if he's to assume the role for the 2020 season, NFL sources told The Inquire.
When Peters signed to return, he did so as a right guard, getting a one-year, $3 million deal to replace Brooks. The left tackle is traditionally one of, if not the highest paid member of the offensive line.
If the Eagles do in fact move Peters to left tackle, who will slide into the right guard spot?
The most obvious choice would be Matt Pryor, who played the position in Brooks absence last season in the team's Wild Card game against Seattle.
"I thought Matt Pryor came in and held his own," former Eagles tackle Tra Thomas told The Sports Bash back in June. I thought he was really good at protection, to me I don't feel there was a major drop-off."