Jackson suffered a sprained AC joint last week, but has said he expects to play Sunday. Credit: Getty Images
The Eagles can’t possibly come back three times in a row, can they?
Ask anyone on the Birds’ roster and they will tell you the same answer — lets hope we don’t have to find out.
With a bevy of injury woes, with an unconventional approach to both offense and defense, and with improbable comebacks the Eagles are 2-0 and on top of the NFC East.
Sunday at 1 p.m. (on FOX), the team welcomes its first division opponent, as well DeSean Jackson — a man whose departure from Philly is still a matter of debate.
Here are our favorite three storylines as Week 3 arrives at Lincoln Financial Field.
1. Super Sproles
The reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Darren Sproles, has been the story of the first two games this season. Can he possibly keep it up?
“When you look at Darren, he’s really, really put together and he’s probably the most fit guy on our team,” Chip Kelly said. “There’s a special quality to him from that standpoint, and I don’t know that we knew that when we got him.”
With Sproles now in the spotlight, perhaps he takes the focus of the defense away from running back LeSean McCoy, who is due for a breakout game this season.
2. The return of D-Jax
It’s the day DeSean Jackson and Eagles fans have been waiting for. But who will get the best of the most anticipated match this season for Birds fans?
“I think it’s a wash,” Eagles coach Chip Kelly said, referencing the familiarity between the Eagles and their former star. “We know him and he knows us. He has experience against Cary [Williams] and Bradley [Fletcher] and the guys that will lineup against him and our guys have experience against them. So I don’t think anybody has an advantage in that situation.”
3.Stopping the Washington pass rush
The battered offensive line will have a tough test Sunday against a potent group of Washington linebackers and defensive ends.
Success at keeping Nick Foles in the pocket, and opening up the running game for Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy will be key to moving to 3-0.
“I think their front is, and you’ve got two outstanding linebackers in [Brian] Orakpo and [Ryan] Kerrigan,” Chip Kelly said. “They added Jason Hatcher, who I have a ton of respect for. … They are also very big across the front. They have two really good linebackers in Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley. They have two real good inside guys so that front seven is very, very formidable.”
4.Kendricks expected to sit out
The Eagles’ linebacking depth took a hit last week when Mychal Kendricks left the Colts game with a calf injury. He hasn’t practiced this week and is officially listed as day-to-day.
“He’s out today and we’ll see and I’m not putting anything on him,” Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Thursday. “We’ll see what he can do tomorrow and Saturday and we’ll make a decision what’s the best for him overall.”
