One of the many, many things that has gone right for the Eagles over their first few games of the season is their relative lack of long-term injuries during their hot start. Andre Dillard broke his arm five days before the regular season opener and needed 4-6 weeks to recover from his surgery. Derek Barnett tore his ACL in Week 1 against the Lions and is obviously out for the season. Otherwise, though, the Eagles have not suffered any major injuries up to this point, and neither of the two aforementioned players are starters.
The Eagles had actually not really suffered any kind of injuries during their first three games, outside of Barnett. That changed both before and during their gross-weather game against the Jaguars, however, as several key players either missed that game or were forced to leave early during it. The Eagles are no strangers to dealing with a laundry list of injuries over the course of a season, but for the first time this year they could be down some players entering a game, and it will be crucial to once again adapt the “Next Man Up” mentality that helped them win a Super Bowl four and a half years ago. Here are the Eagles players whose statuses are a little up in the air at the time, and who on the team to look for as their potential replacements.
Boston Scott → Trey Sermon
Scott missed the Jaguars game due to a rib injury, so recent 49ers waiver claim Trey Sermon made his Eagles debut. He only had two carries, but he picked up 19 yards and I thought he ran very well on both carries. The Eagles would certainly love to have Scott, who was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, back in Arizona, but Sermon seems to be capable of handling a few touches in his place should he need to.
Jordan Mailata → Either Andre Dillard or Jack Driscoll
As mentioned above, Dillard broke his arm right before Week 1 and went on IR. Dillard’s role on this team is basically just to serve as Mailata’s backup at left tackle, so the loss at the time was not devastating. With Mailata leaving six snaps into the Jaguars game with a shoulder injury and not returning, however, Dillard’s recovery is now a fairly important storyline. The Eagles initiated his 21-day practice window this week, so they will use these next few days to determine whether he is healthy enough to fill in for Mailata should he need to. If he can’t, utility reserve Jack Driscoll would likely get the start after filling in for Mailata early in Sunday’s game. Driscoll was a little rough in pass protection out of the gate, but he played much better in the second half, and his ability to hold his own at left tackle as the game progressed was frankly a huge reason the Eagles were able to win this game, in my opinion. Mailata did not practice on Wednesday. The left tackle situation is probably the biggest injury storyline of the week for the Eagles.
Isaac Seumalo → Sua Opeta
Seumalo hurt his ankle during the Jaguars game and did not return. Sua Opeta filled in, and I thought he looked good in his 20 snaps played. Opeta has always been a very capable reserve interior offensive lineman for the Eagles, and I do not think the impact of losing Seumalo would be greatly felt should Opeta need to start this Sunday. Seumalo was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, though, which is an encouraging sign, especially considering how slow and gimpy he looked walking off the field after he got hurt..
Patrick Johnson → Kyron Johnson → ??
Both of Haason Reddick’s backups at the SAM linebacker position suffered concussions while playing on special teams during the Jaguars game, and neither practiced on Wednesday. It would be interesting to see what the Eagles did if neither of these guys can clear protocol in time and Reddick went down on Sunday. Of course, however, you probably saw what Reddick is capable of on Sunday, so you know that losing him would be a big loss no matter what. He is super explosive off the edge and is looking like a home run free agent signing thus far.
Darius Slay → Zech McPhearson
Slay only played three snaps against the Jaguars before leaving with a forearm injury and never returning. He was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, so he is probably looking good for Sunday’s game, but if things turn south it will likely be 2021 fourth-round pick Zech McPhearson starting opposite James Bradberry in his place. McPhearson has had to fill in for Slay a couple times already this year, and he has very much held his own on the outside. Obviously, losing Slay this week would be a huge blow, but I do not think the Eagles are completely screwed in the secondary if McPhearson needs to start in a pinch at any point this year.
Avonte Maddox → Josiah Scott
Maddox hurt his ankle in practice before the Jaguars game, and was forced to miss it. He still has yet to return to practice as of Wednesday. Josiah Scott filled in for Maddox in the slot last Sunday. I didn’t really notice him in any kind of positive or negative way during the game, but Christian Kirk had a very quiet day, so I imagine he at least held his own out there. Expect Scott to get the start once again if Maddox has to miss another game.
Jake Elliott → Cameron Dicker
The Eagles signed undrafted rookie kicker Cameron Dicker out of Texas to the practice squad on Tuesday in the event that Elliott can not kick on Sunday. Elliott was roughed on the last play of the third quarter and injured his kicking ankle in the process. He was caught “popping percs” on the sideline near the end of the game, but the Eagles still felt more comfortable going for it on 4th and 3 coming out of the two minute warning rather than attempting the short field goal with his injury. Dicker would make his NFL debut in Arizona if Elliott can not play, and the expectations would be very high with this team clicking as much as it is.
Photo: Joe Glorioso/All-Pro Reels
