PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Trending was the theme for Doug Pederson on Friday with some of the news negative and some, at least somewhat, positive.

For the glass-is-half-empty crowd, the two worst injury nuggets the Eagles coach revealed before practice on Friday was that starting right tackle Lane Johnson remains in the concussion protocol while lead back Jordan Howard is still not cleared for contact after suffering a mysterious stinger against Chicago before the bye week.

Rookie first-round pick Andre Dillard is expected to be the right tackle on Sunday against the 8-2 Seattle Seahawks while the recently returned Jay Ajayi is penciled in for a bigger role in a committee approach that will also include Miles Sanders and Boston Scott.

Howard continues to practice in a limited fashion much like last week but until he gets the all-clear that doesn't mean much.

At receiver, things are trending better for the Eagles, according to Pederson even though Nelson Agholor missed Wednesday and Thursday practice sessions with a balky knee and Alshon Jeffery continues to practice in a limited fashion due to an ankle injury.

"They're both trending -- I guess that's the word of the day --  in the right direction," Pederson said of his receivers. "Listen, we know in this sport, this game you gotta play sometimes a little beat up and both these guys are tough guys and we fully expect that."

Agholor did walk out to practice but did not have a helmet while Johnson and safety Rudy Ford (abdomen) were absent in the small portion open to the media.

Starting linebacker Nigel Bradham is on track to return after missing the past four games with an ankle injury.

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

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