Foles gets start in NFL opener, with Eagles missing four starters
This has been a miserable preseason for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Not that anyone is fretting a 1-3 exhibition record that included a 5-0 loss to the Cleveland Browns and a 10-9 squeaker over the New York Jets.
The concern is that at least four of Philly’s starters will be sidelined for Thursday night’s opener against the Atlanta Falcons, including, most critically, the quarterback and MVP candidate, Carson Wentz, who suffered two torn ligaments last December.
Dr. James Bradley, who performed the surgery, said it was “much more than a torn ACL.” He publicly urged “a cautious approach. What’s a few games over 12 to 15 years?”
Wentz has been practicing throughout the preseason but has not played in any games. Coach Doug Pederson has been coy about his status, not wanting to reveal information that would be useful to the Falcons. He was prickly with reporters questioning him about this all-important issue.
But Pederson on Monday finally admitted that Nick Foles will start against Atlanta.
In preseason the Super Bowl MVP looked like the third-round draft pick he is. He completed 16 of 26 for 171 yards, no TDs and 2 interceptions. His arm is below average, and defensive coordinators have figured out how to exploit that weakness by playing tight press coverage on the corners.
And here are some other injury concerns:
Alshon Jeffery, the team’s leading receiver in 2017 and another Super Bowl hero, suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder during last year’s preseason. He played the entire season but underwent surgery following the Super Bowl. He’s expected to miss the first two games.
Defensive end Brandon Graham suffered an ankle injury in Week 16 against the Oakland Raiders. He did not miss a game and was one of the heroes of the Super Bowl, with a strip-sack of Tom Brady.
Curiously, ankle surgery was delayed until May 1, so Graham has not fully recovered. He returned to practice a week ago and estimated he was “about 80 percent.” He’s listed as questionable against Atlanta.
There is, unfortunately, no question about run-stuffing tackle Tim Jernigan.He will be out at least until December as he recovers from back surgery.
Jay Ajayi, the Eagles’ starter at running back, has been missing practice with what Pederson described vaguely as “a lower body injury.” He’s listed as questionable for the opener.
Aside from the injuries, there’s starting linebacker Nigel Bradham suspended for the opener because of misconduct. In July 2016 he was charged with assaulting a hotel worker in Miami. The charges were dismissed, but in October of the same year he was arrested at the Philadelphia airport when a gun was found in his bag at a security checkpoint.
Super Bowl Hangover doesn’t get much worse than this.
