Still No Trent Williams for Redskins

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — With the Eagles' regular-season opener set for Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, the biggest news on Wednesday came from Richmond in that Washington Redskins' All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams did not show up for work.

Williams has been a holdout for the Redskins and has consistently said he will never play for the organization again, something team president Bruce Allen has never, outwardly at least, accepted. Although few expected Williams to return, the lure of game checks is now in play so there was at least a chance that Williams would return for Week 1.

That's no longer in play here so the left side of the Redskins' offensive line, once an undeniable strength, is expected to be 38-year-old Donald Penn at left tackle and former New York Giants draft bust Ereck Flowers at left guard, not exactly bad news for Derek Barnett and Malik Jackson on the Eagles' defensive front.

As for the Redskins to be concerned with Doug Pederson mentioned star cornerback Josh Norman and edge rushers Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat on defense, and Derrius Guice at running back, the former LSU star who missed his rookie season with a torn ACL.

"Obviously we know Josh Norman. He's gonna follow Alshon [Jeffery] as he has in the last couple of seasons," the Eagles coach said. "Kerrigan is a guy that can, you know, he picks his spots. He's talented, he can rush the passer and he's a good player, and they move him around a little bit. And I think with him and [Montez] Sweat now on either side, this is a pretty good pass rush on defense. So that's obviously something we got to watch out for, I think offensively that get various guys back and tremendous running back, you know, big powerful guy we liked coming out [Guice]."

Philadelphia is a 9 1/2 favorite for Sunday's game.

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