With Cedric Thornton Out with Broken Bone in Hand, it’s Next Man Up

Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis said starting left defensive end Cedric Thornton will miss a couple weeks with a broken bone in his hand.

"Ced has a break of the hand and I think he's going to be out a week or so," Davis told the media on Tuesday. "I don't know the length of anybody's injury but I don't know if this week he'll be up."

Football coaches and players often talk about the “next man up” mentality.  Just two games into the Philadelphia Eagles regular season and that’s exactly what’s happening, with this injury to Thornton, the Eagles need some under-the-radar guys to step up.

"You know the rotation," Davis stated.  "You've got [DE] Brandon Bair, you’ve got [DE] Taylor [Hart], a lot of guys in there.  There are only so many ‑‑"

Thornton is an important member of the Eagles' line, and there is not a lot of depth one guy that Davis didn't mention is Vinny Curry, who could see an expanded role while Thornton is sidelined.  Curry has been playing some linebacker with Marcus Smith hurt, but could be asked to provide some more plays at defensive end.

Another guy who can get a look is Taylor Hart, the Oregon product has some skills and could develop into a highly useful run-stopping end with some ability to push the pocket if given some extended snaps.

"Taylor is really coming along now," Davis explained.  "Taylor is great at the technique that we play with shock and shed and the way he gets his hands on people and then disengages and gets to the ball, Taylor is going to be a good football player for us."

The 2014 fifth round pick was a 39-game starter for the Ducks, and recorded 22.5 career tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and five forced fumbles.