Monday, September 29, 2014

Lunch Break with Rhea Hughes

Rhea Hughes supplies her views on the Eagles' run game ... or a lack thereof.


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Lane Johnson practicing with Eagles Tuesday

Lane Johnson at training camp.
Offensive tackle Lane Johnson expects to practice Tuesday, which is pretty good news for the Eagles' beat-up line.

Johnson was suspended for the first four games after testing positive for PEDs. The way the second-year man described it, during a stint away from the club he failed to ask the Eagles' medical staff if he could take a doctor's prescription. The prescription contained a banned stimulant.

Allen Barbre (foot surgery), Andrew Gardner and Todd Herremans all have taken turns trying to give the Eagles what they had when Johnson was at right tackle. All of them failed.

LJ at rookie presser.

Johnson and the Eagles are favored by 7 points over the Rams this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

After getting crushed by the Vikings in the regular season opener the Rams beat the Bucs, 19-17, and were beaten on a field goal after blowing a massive lead to the Cowboys.

Speaking of the Cowboys they share the NFC East lead with the Eagles, both teams owning 3-1 records. The Eagles have a division win. The Giants are 2-2, Washington 1-3.

The Eagles have allowed 104 points counting their 26-21 loss Sunday to the 49ers at Levi's Stadium. That's more points than any winning team has surrendered. More than the win-less Raiders have given up.

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Three Washington players, one Eagle fined

The bench-clearing brawl last week pitting offensive tackle Jason Peters of the Eagles against Chris Baker, his defensive counterpart, wasn’t as costly as anticipated.
Peters was fined $10,000 for striking Baker in the head after the play was over. Baker was billed $8,268 for grabbing Peters by the facemask.
Peters delivered a thunderous head slap to Baker, who not only flattened Eagles quarterback Nick Foles with a vicious blindside shot but chest-bumped teammate Trent Williams to celebrate it.
Baker wasn’t disciplined for the hit on Foles as the league ruled it was  legal.
The NFL wasn’t so tolerant of some other hits by Washington players last Sunday.
Keenan Robinson of Washington was fined $22,050 for “unnecessarily striking an opponent with the crown of his helmet” when he delivered a chilling helmet-to-helmet shot on Darren Sproles in the first half.
Akeem Davis of Washington was billed $8,268 for “grabbing an opponent by the facemask.”
Davis was penalized for a horse-collar tackle on Sproles during a punt return with 11:08 left in third quarter.
Mildly surprising was that David Amerson of Washington wasn’t fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit that mildly concussed McCoy in the first quarter. McCoy had to exit the game. He returned but rushed for just 22 yards on 19 carries.

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Kendricks out, Huff upgraded

Kendricks testing strained right calf.
Eagles at 49ers (4:25 p.m., Fox)

Eagles
Out
C Jason Kelce (hernia)
LB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Questionable
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)

Probable 
DL Fletcher Cox (back)
DE Brandon Bair (foot)
CB Brandon Boykin (hip)
TE James Casey (knee)
WR Jordan Matthews (oblique)
WR Brad Smith (groin)
OT Matt Tobin (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring)
S Earl Wolff (knee)
Panoramic of Eagles indoor practice facility roof.

49ers
Out
C Marcus Martin (knee)

Questionable
S Antoine Bethea
CB Tramaine Brock (toe)
OT Anthony Davis (hamstring)
TE Vernon Davis (ankle, knee)
TE Vance McDonald (knee)

Probable
WR Michael Crabtree (quadricep)
RB Frank Gore (back)
DE Justin Smith
LB Patrick Willis (wrist)

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Eagles Thursday Injury Report

Eagles at 49ers (4:25 p.m., Fox)

Eagles
Out (will not play)
C Jason Kelce (hernia)
Eagles practiced indoors Thursday.
Did not practice
LB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Full practice

DL Fletcher Cox (back)
DE Brandon Bair (foot)
CB Brandon Boykin (hip)
TE James Casey (knee)
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)
WR Jordan Matthews (oblique)
WR Brad Smith (groin)
OT Matt Tobin (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring)
S Earl Wolff (knee)

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Mychal Kendricks making a football move

Eagles inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks almost certainly will be scratched again this week due to a strained right calf.



Which is a shame because Kendricks is just the guy defensive coordinator Billy Davis could use to mirror or shadow Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick, one of the more mobile passers in the league.

But Kendricks is making progress. He got into one of the drills at practice Thursday. Every journey, you know, begins with the first step. And Kendricks' strained right calf is strong enough for him to push off on it.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Eagles-49ers Wednesday Injury Report

Jason Kelce.
Eagles at 49ers (4:25 p.m.)

Eagles
Out (will not play)
C Jason Kelce (hernia)

Did not practice
LB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Limited practice
DL Fletcher Cox (back)

Full practice
DE Brandon Bair (foot)
CB Brandon Boykin (hip)
TE James Casey (knee)
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)
WR Jordan Matthews (oblique)
WR Brad Smith (groin)
OT Matt Tobin (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring)
S Earl Wolff (knee)

Niners
Did not practice
CB Traimaine Brock (toe)
C Marcus Martin (knee)
TE Vance McDonald (knee)
DE Justin Smith (not injury related)
LB Patrick Willis (wrist)

Limited practice
OT Anthony Davis (hamstring)
TE Vernon Davis (ankle, knee)

Full practice
RB Frank Gore (back)

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Mark Sanchez at Chickie's & Pete's Thursday

Join Merrill Reese, voice of the Eagles and yours truly Thursday night at 6 on Pro Football Report on WBCB 1490 AM and 610 AM.

The special guest at Chickie's and Pete's, 1100 Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia, is Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez. Sanchez was twice told to warm up last Sunday when starting quarterback Nick Foles was banged-up. Some of the hardest shots Sanchez ever took came from ... Ray Lewis.

You can listen to the show by clicking here.

Merrill Reese taking in Eagles practice.

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Sunday, September 21, 2014

Smith, Watkins primed to make debuts

Barkley ... healthy  scratch.
The Eagles activated draft picks Marcus Smith (linebacker) and Jaylen Watkins (cornerback), paving the way for the rookies to make their playing debuts.

The Birds scratched quarterback Matt Barkley, wide receiver Josh Huff, safety Earl Wolff (knee), offensive tackle Matt Tobin, guard Kevin Graf, linebacker Mychal Kendricks and defensive end Taylor Hart.

Washington scratched quarterback Robert Griffin III, cornerback Tracy Porter, linebacker Akeem Jordan, defensive end Kedric Golston, tight end Jordan Reed, offensive tackle Morgan Moses and wide receiver Santana Moss.

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Friday, September 19, 2014

Eagles Friday Injury Report

Eagles vs. Washington (Sunday, 1 p.m., LFF)

Earl Wolff ... questionable.
Eagles
Out
ILB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

Doubtful 
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)
Questionable
S Earl Wolff (knee)
OT Matt Tobin (ankle)

Probable
DE Fletcher Cox (back)
CB Cary Williams (hamstring)
CB Nolan Carroll (elbow)
TE Zach Ertz (knee)
G Todd Herremans (hamstring)
S Malcolm Jenkins (shoulder)
WR Brad Smith (groin) 
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring)

DJack, in Eagles days. Questionable for reunion.
REDSKINS
Out
QB Robert Griffin III (ankle)
LB Akeem Jordan (knee)
CB Tracy Porter (hamstring)
TE Jordan Reed (hamstring)

Questionable
WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder)
K Kai Forbath (groin)
C Korey Lichensteiger (groin)

Probable
S Ryan Clark (foot)
RB Roy Helu, Jr. (quad)
G Shawn Lauvao (knee)
LB Brian Orakpo (ankle)
FB Darrel Young (neck)

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

Thursday Injury Report

Todd Herremans ... hamstring.
EAGLES
Did Not Practice
ILB Mychal Kendricks (calf) 

Limited Practice
DE Fletcher Cox (back)
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)
CB Cary Williams (hamstring)
S Earl Wolff (knee)

Full Practice 
CB Nolan Carroll (elbow)
TE Zach Ertz (knee)
G Todd Herremans (hamstring)
S Malcolm Jenkins (shoulder)
WR Brad Smith (groin)
OT Matt Tobin (ankle) 
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring) 

WASHINGTON
Did Not Practice
WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder)
DE Kedric Golston (groin)
LB Akeem Jordan (knee)
CB Tracy Porter (hamstring)
TE Jordan Reed (hamstring)

Limited Practice
K Kai Forbath (groin)
C Kory Lichtensteiger (groin)

Full Practice
RB Roy Helu (quad)
G Shawn Lauvao (knee)
LB Brian Orakpo (ankle)
RB Darrel Young (neck)


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Eagles get ref who excused interference


Tony Corrente's crew officiates Eagles-Washington this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
One NovaCare Way practice field.

That crew allowed Eagles cornerback Bradley Fletcher to beat on Michael Floyd on fourth down of what became a 24-21 win over the Cardinals last year at the Linc. An interference penalty would have given the Cardinals a first down.

The Eagles are 3-2 with Corrente's crew in charge over the past five seasons, although just 1-0 at home.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Eagles-Washington Injury Report

Cary Williams was limited in practice Wednesday.
EAGLES
DID NOT PRACTICE
ILB Mychal Kendricks (calf)

LIMITED PRACTICE
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)
CB Cary Willliams (hamstring)

FULL PRACTICE
OL Matt Tobin (ankle)
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring)
RB Chris Polk (hamstring)
WR Brad Smith (groin)
S Malcolm Jenkins (shoulder)
TE Zach Ertz (knee)
OL Todd Herremans (hamstring)
S Earl Wolff (knee)
DE Fletcher Cox (back).

WASHINGTON 
DID NOT PRACTICE 

DE Kedric Golston (groin)
WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder)
LB Akeem Jordan (knee)
CB Tracy Porter (hamstring)
TE Jordan Reed (hamstring

LIMITED PRACTICE
K Kai Forbath (right groin)
RB Darrel Young (neck)

FULL PRACTICE
RB Roy Helu (quadricep)
G Shawn Lauvao (knee)
LB Brian Orakpo (ankle)


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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

DeSean Jackson has AC sprain

Former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson is day-to-day with a sprain of the AC join in his left shoulder according to Washington head coach Jay Gruden.
DJack at Super Bowl while still an Eagle.

If Jackson can tolerate the pain he'll be on the field when the Burgundy and Gold take on the Eagles Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Quite frankly, the pain of not playing against the Eagles, who unceremoniously dumped him late last February would be worse.
Jackson caught Robert Griffin III's last throw, a 19-yard completion. Griffin dislocated his left  ankle after the pass and is out indefinitely. Kirk Cousins starts Sunday.
The Eagles are favored by 7 points. The over-under in points is 50.
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Sunday, September 14, 2014

Foles left MSU because of Cousins

Small world.

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, assuming he stays healthy, next week takes on the man he couldn't beat out for the starting job at Michigan State - Kirk Cousins. Foles transferred to Arizona.

That's because Robert Griffin III exited in excruciating pain in the first quarter of Washington's game Sunday with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Griffin could miss the rest of the season after dislocating his left ankle.

The Burgundy and Gold didn't miss a beat, though.

In fact they switched gears with Cousins, who threw their first two scoring passes of the season and amassed 250 yards through the air en route to a 41-10 blowout.


Head coach Jay Gruden had to enjoy the energy Cousins brought to the previously lifeless offense.

Washington also sacked Chad Henne 10 times, four of the drops by left outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, who would be matched against Andrew Gardner of the Eagles.

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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Eagles-Colts Saturday Injury Report

EAGLES
OUT
OL Matt Tobin (ankle), DNP
WR Josh Huff (shoulder), DNP
No question about it, Chris Polk has been cleared to play Monday.
 
PROBABLE
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring), FP
RB Chris Polk (hamstring), FP
WR Brad Smith (groin), FP

COLTS 
OUT
+ LB Jerrell Freeman (hamstring)
G Joe Reitz (ankle)

QUESTIONABLE
C Khaled Holmes (ankle) LP
DT Arthur Jones (shoulder) LP
DT Josh Chapman (ankle) FP

+ Freeman led the Colts in tackles the past two seasons and was second in sacks last year. The Colts are without their top two pass rushers from 2013.



DNP - Did not practice.
FP - Full practice.
LP - Limited practice Follow @BobGrotz on Twitter

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Friday, September 12, 2014

Eagles Friday Injury Report

DID NOT PRACTICE
OL Matt Tobin (ankle)
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)
Josh Huff signing autographs at training camp. His shoulder is ailing.

FULL PRACTICE
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring)
RB Chris Polk (hamstring)

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Eagles 0-for-1 in new replay appeal system

In time, Chip Kelly expects the change in the Eagles' replay review operation to work out well.
Anyone know anything about shortening podiums?

But it didn't happen in the opener.

In the fourth quarter the Eagles appealed an incomplete pass by Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne on the grounds it was a fumble. They were denied. The call on the field stood.

In a long season, the new hire cannot help but do better than last year. The Eagles missed four of seven replay appeals.

Hiring someone exclusively for replays enables the coaches Kelly previously relied on to be his eyes in the sky to focus on their own jobs. All too often they're watching a monitor waiting to determine if the play in question should be reviewed.

"We don't get the same feed all the time that the people on TV get," Kelly said. "We're governed by the feed that we get in the box. And there's been some games where I've asked, shall we challenge? And our guys in the box say 'we haven't see a replay yet.' And it always seems like it happens when we're on the road. It's happened in two cities specifically this year when I wanted to challenge it but we didn't get a replay. So it's tough for those guys to tell me. And we're not going to challenge it because it is taking a timeout. We're not going to guess on what we saw. You've got to be able to see the replay."

The Eagles' replay guy is Frank Kosman, former ACC senior replay official per Phillymag.com/Birds24.7.

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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Eagles Thursday injury report

DID NOT PRACTICE
OL Matt Tobin (ankle)
WR Josh Huff (shoulder)

FULL PRACTICE
CB Jaylen Watkins (hamstring)
RB Chris Polk (hamstring)

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Monday, September 8, 2014

Not a 'season-ender' for Evan Mathis

The Eagles aren’t confirming a report that All-Pro guard Evan Mathis sprained a medial collateral ligament Sunday in the first half of a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The report in Philly.com stated an MRI Monday revealed the damage.
Evan Mathis

The good news for Mathis, who has started 41 straight games for the Eagles, is that head coach Chip Kelly has been told the medical people think it’s an MCL, which wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the 2014 campaign for Mathis.

“They just said they didn’t think it was his ACL and that would be a season-ender,” Kelly said Monday. “That’s all I was told yesterday. They thought it was his MCL and they were going to send him for an MRI.”

Right tackle Allen Barbre, the replacement for Lane Johnson, suspended four games by the NFL, has a sprained ankle. Barbre was unable to play through the injury Sunday.

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Sunday, September 7, 2014

Offensive line decimated

Evan Mathis is out with a knee injury.

Allen Barbre is nursing a sprained ankle.

Left offensive tackle Jason Peters, the perennial Pro Bowl player, has given up 2 sacks resulting in two Nick Foles fumbles recovered by the Jaguars, who turned them into two touchdowns.
Think he did his last GameDay interview?

And the Eagles are in a 17-0 hole at the intermission.

It could be worse. Josh Scobee missed a 50-yard field goal attempt and had a 36-yarder snuffed by Brandon Bair.

It also could be better. Foles, however, was intercepted in the end zone trying to get the ball to Brent Celek.

Journeyman center is playing left guard for the Eagles. Andrew Gardner is playing right tackle.

The Jaguars lost Jonathan Cyprien to a head injury.

Foles has been sacked 5 times. He's 12 of 24 for 137 yards, one pick and a 50.5 rating. He committed three turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

Jaguars counterpart Chad Henne is 12 of 17 for 167 yards, two touchdowns to Alan Hurns, and a 141.1 rating. 

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Saturday, September 6, 2014

All-Suspended team

My 11-man All-Suspended NFL team, with number of games banished in parenthesis:
QB - Dominique Davis, FA (4)
RB - Ray Rice, Ravens (3)
WR - Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (4)
WR - Josh Gordon, Browns (Indefinite)
WR - Wes Welker, Broncos (4)
OL - Lane Johnson, Eagles (4)
Lane Johnson received a four-game suspension,

DE - Aldon Smith, 49ers (9)
LB - Daryl Washington, Cards (Indefinite)
LB - Robert Mathis, Colts (4)
DB - Orlando Scandrick, Cowboys (4)
K - Matt Prater, Broncos (4)
Johnson, by the way, is among four offensive linemen receiving four-game suspensions, the others Donald Stephenson of the Chiefs, Eric Herman of the Giants and Rokevious Watkins (free agent).

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Friday, September 5, 2014

Eagles choose Sisemore for coin flip

Eagles Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Sisemore is the honorary alumni captain for the season opener Sunday against the Jaguars.

Sisemore is no stranger to ceremonial coin flips. He was a two-time All-American at Texas ending in 1972. The Longhorns won a national championship in 1970 and Sisemore was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

The Eagles took Sisemore off the board with the third pick in the 1973 draft. He played a dozen seasons, tied for sixth all-time with the franchise. 

Sisemore anchored an offensive line that won the NFC Championship in 1980 and played in Super Bowl XV.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Eagles injury report

Wide receiver Josh Huff (shoulder) and offensive lineman Matt Tobin (ankle) were held out of practice.
Josh Huff in healthier times.

Cornerback Jaylen Watkins (hamstring) worked on a limited basis; just not enough for the Eagles to list him as such. Mark Watkins down in the DNP category with the above players.

Running back Chris Polk (hamstring) and wide receivers Riley Cooper (ankle) and Brad Smith (groin) were full participants at practice per the Eagles' report.

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