The Eagles won 30-17 in Washington Monday but they paid a high price.
A handful of key Eagles players’ fates are in doubt after non-contact injuries took their toll on one of the NFL’s healthiest teams heading into Week 1.
Here’s the latest on Ronald Darby, Jason Peters and Caleb Sturgis.
Darby, CB
Darby twisted his ankle in the second quarter while defending a screen pass Sunday and was carted off the field. With many fearing the worst, reports Monday revealed it was an ankle disloaction. NFL Network also suggested that Darby’s injury carries a four-to-six week recovery timeframe — much better than what could have been a much more series Achilles injury.
However Doug Pederson is not confirming the injury’s severity.
“I haven’t seen that yet,” he said when asked about Darby Monday. “Just talking with our doctors, we’re gathering more information before we make a full statement.”
With the No. 1 cornerback sidelined for at least a month, someone needs to step up — most likely rookie Rasul Douglas who did not dress for the Redskins game.
“We do have Rasul sitting there and C.J. [Smith], obviously,” Pederson said. “But we’ll look at it, talk with [Defensive coordinator Jim] Schwartz in the next couple days and have a plan. If he can’t go, then possibly Rasul.”
Peters, LT
Peters appeared to pull his groin in the first half Sunday and was listed as questionable to return. Of course, he didn’t, and protection for Carson Wentz seemed to suffer a but with the Eagles’ quarterback facing pressure throughout the second half.
The injury seems to be much less serious and he could be back in Week 2 in Kansas City.
“Big V [T Halapoulivaati Vaitai] I thought stepped in, and with really limited reps at tackle during the week and did well,” Pederson said, implying that Big V would likely start against the Chiefs if Peters remains injured next weekend.
Sturgis, K
Another injury that could have quite the impact on the Birds is their kicker Sturgis, who was too hurt to attempt the Eagles extra point after Fletcher Cox scored on a recovered fumble in the fourth quarter. The Eagles will be trying out kickers this week and if the injury is as bad as it sounds, they’ll have a new man place-kicking soon.
“It was early in the game and it’s just his lower body, his hip,” the coach said. “Again, we just have to get more information, and we’ll have something for you probably on Wednesday.”
Reports from Ian Rapoport suggested that the Eagles would for sure need a new kicker, as Sturgis was expected to “miss several weeks.”
