Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Hamstring tear does in Pumphrey
PHILADELPHIA » Eagles fourth-round draft pick Donnel Pumphrey sustained a torn hamstring in practice Wednesday, effectively ending his rookie season.
The injury occurred when Pumphrey, the alltime leading rusher in FBS history, was giving the Eagles’ defense a snapshot of the Kansas City Chiefs, who they oppose Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Pumphrey said he felt the hamstring grab twice.
“It was a running play,” Pumphrey said Friday. “But I think it wasn’t fully healed. I definitely felt like there was still tightness in that same hammy. It was the same one I hurt prior. I guess it’s torn but honestly it felt worse the first time.
“I came off the field. I was able to walk off the field not limping or anything, none of that and I got the MRI and they said it was torn.”
The Eagles put Pumphrey on injury reserved just hours after coach Doug Pederson said the club needed “more information on this one but it’s significant.”
If the Eagles need to promote a running back, Byron Marshall is on the practice roster.
Pumphrey was certain to be scratched for the second straight week, and counting. Truth be told, the Eagles kept Pumphrey and Shelton Gibson, the fifth-round pick with breakaway speed, to develop them.
In the case of Pumphrey, the injury casts doubt on the development angle.
Pumphrey’s understanding is the recovery time for his hamstring is 4-to-6 weeks. He can’t come off injured reserve for at least eight weeks.
“It definitely will set him back because he won’t be able to run and do all the things that we’d want him to do,” Pederson said. “It’s just unfortunate. We know it’s part of the game but we’ll keep him plugged in around the meeting rooms and around the team.”
Gibson, cornerback Rasul Douglas, a thirdround pick, and defensive tackle Elijah Qualls (sixth round) all were deactivated for the Eagles’ season opener.
Douglas and Qualls could see action this weekend against the Chiefs. Pederson said defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao (wrist) and cornerback Ronald Darby (ankle) would be listed “out” on the injury report.
The plan now is Douglas “to have a role this weekend.”
“He’s picking up the game plan,” Pederson said. “He understands what his role is, at the corner position. So if called upon, he’ll be ready.”
Qualls has been working into the defensive line rotation and has a chance to play, per Pederson.
Pumphrey figured he’d have a role at this point of the season. His reputation preceded him during the draft, vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas hailing his toughness with “he’s a little dog that thinks he’s a big dog.”
Pumphrey was impressive at the rookie camp, demonstrating his quickness and pass receiving skills. When training camp began, the hamstring became an issue before the contact practices.
Pumphrey may have come back too quickly from the injury trying to establish himself during the preseason.
While that was happening, undrafted free agent running back Corey Clement was winning a job on the 53-man roster. He rushed for 1,375 yards and 15 touchdowns last season at Wisconsin.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Pumphrey said. “But I mean it’s just something I’ve got to deal with it.”
••• Clement, who hails from Glassboro, N.J., made the Eagles’ first play of the season, a tackle pinning the Redskins at their own 16-yard line on the opening kickoff last Sunday.
Clement was a force, as he played 13 of 20 special teams snaps, drawing double teams that freed teammates to make plays.
Special teams almost certainly will impact the game with the Chiefs, who have game-breaking speed in the return game. Tyreek Hill has deep speed. De’Anthony Thomas owns an explosive burst.
“Those guys are track runners on a football field,” Clement said. “And we’ve got to do our best to contain them any way possible. We’ve got to play fast. I think if we play lights out like we did in the last game on special teams, we’ll be good.”
••• The Eagles are rolling into Arrowhead with rookie kicker Jake Elliott, who in just a few days has impressed Pederson with his consistency.
“Big leg, very accurate and his kickoffs were good, so really excited to watch him kick Sunday,” Pederson said. “This place, Arrowhead, the winds can swirl around in this place . ... I’ve just got to trust my gut, trust my instinct and trust the players. I’ve said that all along. I can’t go in here second-guessing myself or a decision. I have to pull the trigger and if I feel like we’re going to kick the field goal, then we’ll kick it. It’s not going to change my decision making one way or the other.”
••• NOTES » The Eagles list safety Corey Graham (hamstring) as questionable for the Chiefs. … The Chiefs list guard Parker Ehinger (knee) and linebacker Reggie Ragland (knee) as doubtful, although technically there isn’t a doubtful category, just questionable or out. Safety Ron Parker (ankle) and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (illness) are questionable.