Injuries to Peters, Hicks leave Pederson with options
With Hicks, Peters done, Pederson ponders solutions
PHILADELPHIA » Even as they were sprinting to a 6-1 start, the Eagles and Doug Pederson were aware of the realities of the 17-week NFL marathon.
By Tuesday, they were hit, and hit hard, by a pair of them.
Formally realizing the fears that clouded their celebration of a 34-24 victory Monday over the Washington Redskins, the Eagles learned and shared Tuesday that both Jason Peters and Jordan Hicks would be lost for the season.
Peters tore his MCL and ACL during a play with 14:06 left in the third quarter Monday. To a roar of appreciation for the nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle from a crowd of 69,596, Peters was carted off the field. After the game, there was a faint sense of some optimism that the injury was not season-ending. As it happened, it may have cost the 35-year-old the rest of his career.
Hicks, whose exceptional mobility at middle linebacker had provided 28 tackles this season, was injured early in the game when TV replays revealed that he’d caught his right foot in the Linc’s grass surface. He did not return to the game and will not, according to Pederson, return this season.
Even with the risky elements of pro football, the Eagles have been hit particularly hard with injuries. Already, Darren Sproles (arm, knee), their most accomplished running back, and Chris Maragos (knee), a special-teams differencemaker, have been lost for the season. Peters is typically a Pro Bowl candidate. Hicks was the Birds’ most dynamic linebacker.
“When you look at the injury list and the guys that we’ve lost,” Pederson said Tuesday, at his regular day-after news conference at the NovaCare Complex, “they are significant starters and roleplayers on your football team, significant leaders on your football team, captains of your football team. It can make an impact.
“One of the things I have talked about with the players is that it is definitely ‘the next man up.’ And they’ve rallied around the guys who are hurt, No. 1, and support them. But at the same time we still have a lot of football to play.”
Among Pederson’s offensive-line options will be to shift Lane Johnson to left tackle, in what long has been viewed as the right-tackle’s professional destiny, once Peters retired. Pederson, though, sounded reluctant Tuesday to commit to that move, as it would require a change at both tackle positions, not just one.
“That’s very accurate, very accurate,” Pederson said. “You have to look at the ‘whole.’ Lane is playing extremely well right now on the right side. It would be tough to move two spots, two physical tackles. But we’ll look at all that.”
The Eagles have a short work week, with the San Francisco 49ers set to visit Sunday at 1. Pederson hinted that Halapoulivaati Vaitai would replace Peters at left tackle, saying the Birds will “rally around a guy like ‘Big V’ now.” The head coach was planning to meet with offensive coordinator Frank Reich before making that call, but he believes the second-year pro Vaitai can meet the challenge.
“He is not a rookie,” he said. “He is not a spring chicken playing for the first time. He played significant time last year. He’s played this year already. So there’s a lot of confidence in all the guys. There is a great group of leaders on this team. And they’ll be ready to go.”
With Hicks out, Nigel Bradham is likely to become the No. 1 middle linebacker. Pederson also mentioned the possibility of using Joe Walker and that Najee Goode has played the position.
“There’s some flexibility there,” he said. “It may take two guys to fill that spot, just like we’ve done at other positions. So we just have to get the guys ready to play Sunday.”
By then, the Birds could receive a boost at linebacker, with Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) close to returning, according to Pederson. Kendrick did not play against the Redskins and was replaced in the lineup by Goode.
With Peters and Hicks destined for the injuredreserve list, the Eagles will need two additional players.
“We start in-house,” Pederson said. “Isaac (Seumalo) has played tackle for us and played well. He’ll get some time and some reps there. Dillon Gordon is sitting there (on the practice squad). We had guys in camp that we will look at to bring back. Then outside, we will see if there is a veteran guy out there who can fill a need or a role. So our personnel department is on it right now.”