the Philadelphia Eagles released its third and final official injury report on Friday ahead of its Week 17 game against the New Orleans Saints.
The big news is that Jalen Hurts is DOUBTFUL to play after being restricted for the second day in a row.
And so it looks like Gardner Minshew will start at quarterback again. Which seems like the right way to handle this situation.
It’s always been said that Hurts would probably have to miss at least two games to recover from his shoulder injury. No one can doubt his tenacity or his willingness to play… but the Eagles need to be smart and protect him from further injury.
Minshew played well enough in Week 16 to help the Eagles gain 442 yards and score 27 points against the No. 1. 2 DVOA-rated defense. He should be good enough to help lead the Eagles to a home win over the Saints.
Although Hurts’ questionable status is not a positive development for him this week, that seems to bode well for his future prospects. If the Eagles somehow lose to New Orleans (sorry to put that in-universe), he could be ready to play in Week 18 against the New York Giants if necessary.
Of course, the Eagles hope they can clinch the No. 1 title. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs Photo with a win on Sunday. They would then have the option of resting Hurts until the Eagles’ first playoff game, either Jan. 21 or Jan. 22. He would have plenty of time to heal in this case.
Two players were excluded: Lane Johnson and Avonte Maddox.
No surprise here.
Johnson is out until the Eagles’ first playoff game. It remains to be seen how the Eagles will handle his absence. They’ll go with one of two paths: 1) start Jack Driscoll at right tackle… or… 2) move Jordan Mailata to right tackle and start Andre Dillard at left tackle. The Eagles might think Dillard is better than Driscoll and thus aim to get their top five offensive linemen on the field. Of course, the downside is changing two different locations instead of one.
Maddox is said to be “out of commission indefinitely”. If the Eagles end up putting him on IR before 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, he can’t be activated until the superbowl. They might just choose to keep him on the rooster in hopes he can play in the NFC Championship Game. With Maddox out, Josiah Scott is expected to be the nickel starting cornerback … although K’Von Wallace could see some playing time in that role as well. No matter who is playing in the slot, the Saints will surely be looking to go after that guy.
CJ Gardner-Johnson was eligible to activate his 21-day training window this week, but that didn’t happen. He will therefore miss a fifth game in a row.
Miles Sanders was promoted to full participation on Friday and is listed with no playing status. He is good to go. Same for AJ Brown.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
OUTSIDE
OT Lane Johnson (groin)
CB Avonte Maddox (toe)
DOUBTFUL
QB Jalen Hurts (right shoulder)
…
RESERVE/INJURED
BY Derek Barnett
S CJ Gardner-Johnson
By Arryn Siposs
DT Marlon Tuipulotu
BY Robert Quinn
Barnett is out for the year due to the nature of his ACL injury. CJGJ is recovering from a lacerated kidney and is now eligible to return, but apparently not ready to play. Siposs will miss at least the rest of the regular season with an ankle injury. Tuipulotu is out for the year due to the nature of his knee injury. Quinn is out with a knee injury and is eligible to return in Week 18 at the earliest.
RESERVED/PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM
T/G Brett Toth
The Eagles have yet to activate Toth’s 21-day training window.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)
Alvin Kamara returned to training on Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday. The Saints’ first rusher is listed with no playing status and will play in Philadelphia.
The Saints have ruled out starting safety Marcus Maye, who has an 80.3 passer rating when targeted this year. Maye’s top replacement, Justin Evans, is questionable after being restricted to training all week. Thus, the Saints could be reduced to a fourth option at safety next to Tyrann Mathieu.
The Saints also ruled out starting left guard Andrus Peat. New Orleans is already missing starting right guard Cesar Ruiz, who is on the disabled list. The Eagles need to be able to reach their inside offensive line.
Main receiver Chris Olave and Pro-Bowl Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is both questionable to play after being restricted to practice all week. The Eagles will take a big break if one or none of them ends up playing. It will be worth seeing whether or not they are up when inactives are announced 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. kick-off.
Starting linebacker Pete Werner, who ranks third on the Saints in tackles despite missing five games, is also questionable after being restricted to practice this week. Another key name to watch.
OUTSIDE
S Marcus Maye (shoulder)
OG Andrus Peat (ankle)
RB Dwayne Washington (illness)
QUESTIONABLE
S Justin Evans (shoulder)
CB Marshon Lattimore (abdomen)
WR Chris Olave (hamstrings)
LB Pete Werner (hamstrings)
…
RESERVE/INJURED
LB Zack Baun
OL Ethan Greenidge
WR/RS Deonte Harty
DT Albert Huggins
RB Mark Ingram II
LB D’Marco Jackson
WR Jarvis Landry
S Smoke Monday
C/G Cesar Ruiz
WR Michel Thomas
As you can see, the Saints have a number of recognizable names on IR. They are missing starting wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Michael Thomas, starting right guard Cesar Ruiz, second running back Mark Ingram and dangerous running back Deonte Harty (née Deonte Harris).
0 Comments