Darby’s injury casts cloud on victory
LANDOVER, MD. » Just the sight of starting cornerback Ronald Darby carted off the field with his right foot and leg immobilized Sunday was stressful for the Eagles.
Darby collided with teammate Malcolm Jenkins, who tackled Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins after a four-yard gain early in the second quarter. That was the end of Darby’s day, but hopefully not his season.
“It’s something we’ll look at tomorrow,” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said. “Obviously we’ll evaluate Darby and see where he’s at. I’m sure he’ll miss some time.”
Darby dislocated the right ankle, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rappaport, who said X-rays were negative and that an MRI was necessary to gauge the extent of ligament and tendon damage.
David J. Chao, MD, who hails himself as the pro football doctor on his verified Twitter account, suggested it was a subtalar ankle dislocation, which wouldn’t require surgery and allow Darby to return in midseason.
Jaylen Watkins, who also plays safety, and veteran Patrick Robinson split duty on the outside in place of Darby.
Rookie third-round pick Rasul Douglas or Dexter McDougle could get a promotion. Both were scratched Sunday.
The Eagles helped the corners out with four sacks in the 30-17 win over the Redskins, including a strip sack by Brandon Graham that enabed Fletcher Cox to score his second career touchdown on a 20-yard return late in the fourth quarter. Graham had two sacks, Tim Jernigan and Jordan Hicks the others.
*** Elsewhere on the injury front left offensive tackle Jason Peters and kicker Caleb Sturgis were none the worse for wear after the game.
Peters exited near the end of the first half and played just one snap in the second half due to a strained groin. Hal Vaitai was a decent replacement.
“I just tweaked it,” Peters said. I just don’t want to pull it or nothing so I came out. I kept playing but I just didn’t feel the power. The guy wasn’t beating me or anything but I’m like ‘damn, I might pull it.’ Then I had (trainer Chris Peduzzi) and them look at it and they just told me to shut it down. I’m coming back this week.”
Peters doesn’t want to miss time against the Chiefs and Andy Reid, who traded for him.
Pederson went for two points instead of having Sturgis kick after the Eagles’ last TD because the veteran’s hip was giving him trouble.
Sturgis squibbed the ensuing kickoff 49 yards.
“I just felt my hip pull a little bit but I’ll be fine,” said Sturgis, who kicked three field goals but hooked a PAT left. “It’s just a little pull. I’ll be fine.”
*** Four of the seven Eagles scratches Sunday were draft picks.
In addition to Douglas, the Eagles deactivated fourth-round running back Donnel Pumphrey, fifthround wide receiver Shelton Gibson and defensive tackle Elijah Qualls, a sixth-round selection.
*** Redskins scratched The running back Mack Brown, cornerback Joshua Holsey, linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons, defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II, offensive linemen Tyler Catalina and T.J. Clemmings, and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle.
*** NOTES » The Eagles have won five of their six season openers on the road. They also have four straight opening day wins over NFC East opponents … Carson Wentz is the first Eagle to throw a TD pass on the first drive of the season in consecutive years. Oh, and the last NFL player to do it was Drew Brees, who actually did it in backto-back-to-back seasons ending in 2010 … Wentz threw for 307 yards, his fifth 300-plus yard passing game … Cox became the first Eagle register a sack, a forced fumble and a TD in a game since Chris Clemons in December of 2008 against the Cowboys … Brandon Graham, who wanted to perfect his finish this season, recorded two sacks … Linebacker Jordan Hicks recovered a fumble, giving him 12 takeaways in his first 25 games … Jernigan notched his first sack with the Eagles … Jalen Mills recorded his first interception to kill a Redskins drive in the fourth quarter … Trey Burton recovered a fumble on special teams for the Eagles.