Vaitai in line to start against Panthers
PHILADELPHIA » High among the explanations for the Eagles’ 4-1 expectationbuilding start has been their ability to overcome injuries. The tests, though, continue to mount.
Oft-unavailable yet critical Lane Johnson sustained a concussion in the Birds’ 34-7 victory over the visiting Arizona Cardinals Sunday. By Monday, according to Doug Pederson, the right tackle was in the concussion protocol.
With the Birds on an accelerated schedule due to a Thursday night game at Carolina, Johnson almost certainly would not have enough time to be cleared to play.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who played the second half of the Cardinals game, would be the starting tackle against the Panthers. Isaac Seumalo will also receive additional tackle reps during the accelerated practice schedule this week.
Already, the Eagles have succeeded despite losing Fletcher Cox, Ronald Darby, Darren Sproles, Caleb Sturgis and others. Pederson expects the trend to continue.
“Listen, it’s the guys that we have brought into the team, or the next guy on the roster,” Pederson said at his regular day-after press briefing at the NovaCare Complex. “It’s the resiliency of the football team, the never-quit, the don’tquit mentality.”
Despite that attitude and execution, recent history hints that it will be severely tested should Johnson be missing for any lengthy period. The Eagles were 2-8 last season while Johnson was serving a 10-game suspension for a second failed performance-enhancingdrug test. They were 5-1 with Johnson available.
According to Pederson, Johnson was injured in the first half Sunday, was checked at halftime, and was ruled out for the second half. With Vaitai, the Eagles were no less effective and scored on their first two second-half possessions.
“Big V came in and started the third quarter and we went down and got the points right away,” Pederson said. “He played good. He played solid. He’s one that the more he plays, the better he gets obviously. Even on a short week for him, not getting many reps at tackle, coming off the bench like he does, it’s just a tribute to the way he prepares himself and the way he battles and gets better every time he is out there.”
With the NFL intensely protective of concussed players, Pederson is doubtful that Johnson will have sufficient time under any circumstance to be cleared before Thursday. The schedule, though, will break in Johnson’s favor after the visit to Charlotte, as the Eagles will not play again until the Washington Redskins visit the Linc two Mondays later, Oct. 23. That will be 15 days after the injury, suggesting that Johnson may only miss the Carolina game.
“It’s tough based on the protocol and what the players have to go through,” Pederson said. “So it’s hard on a short week.”
The Eagles were to have a closed afternoon workout Monday as they began their hastened preparations for the Panthers. Vaitai was scheduled to receive the tackle reps.
“I have to plan that way,” Pederson said, “going into this game.”
Pederson and his players have no choice but to adapt. They did that so quickly Sunday that Carson Wentz, apparently, barely was aware that Johnson was missing.
“Honestly, I’ll have to go back and watch the tape, but I didn’t really notice,” he said. “We didn’t miss a beat. Big V stepped up and it seemed like he did a great job. We’ll go back and watch tape.
“We know Lane’s a heck of a football player. Hopefully he can recover and be ready to go. We’ll see what happens, but at the same time, Big V’s had tons of valuable experience and reps last year and he got a ton better. So we feel solid if Lane’s not ready to go. We know Big V will be ready.”
A fifth-round, 2016 draft choice from TCU, Vaitai sputtered shortly after replacing Johnson last season, yet steadied. He made six starts as a rookie.
Though Johnson served a four-game PED-related suspension in 2014, he appeared in every game in 2015 and typically fights off nagging injuries to play. Players are unable to do that following concussions.
Thus, the Birds’ resiliency will be tested again.
“All the things we talk about as a football team is what you’re seeing,” Pederson said. “The coaches are putting them in positions to succeed. The players take it upon themselves. They know the importance of getting ready to play. And it goes down to all 53 on the roster who have to prepare themselves like starters and get themselves ready to go.”
*** NOTES » Cox, who has missed the past two games with a calf injury, was expected to participate Monday in a walk-through … Second-round draft choice Sidney Jones, who has missed the entire season with an achilles injury, is eligible to resume practicing Oct. 16. Pederson said the cornerback has resumed running … The Eagles will practice Tuesday.