Long flight won’t help long list of walking wounded
PHILADELPHIA >> Factor in the requisite swelling that typically takes place during lengthy flights and you can all but rule out a handful of Eagles for Sunday’s Birds game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
Linebacker Nathan Gerry (ankle, knee), safety Corey Graham (hamstring) and cornerback Sidney Jones (hamstring) haven’t practiced all week. Gerry and Graham have been sidelined the last two games, Jones this past weekend.
Running back Darren Sproles (hamstring) hasn’t practiced or played since the opener.
There’s not much that can be done to minimize inflammation on flights of 7 hours, 15 minutes, although the Eagles are handing out travel
suits for players to wear on the plane. And you’re not talking business casual here.
“They’re jump suits,” veteran Chris Long said. “They’ll do the job. Once I’m on the plane I’ll be asleep, so I’m not going to care (about) what I’m wearing.”
The partial practice participants Thursday were linebacker
D.J. Alexander (quadriceps), offensive tackles Lane Johnson (ankle) and Jason Peters (biceps) and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (calf), who hasn’t played in the last three games.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas (not injury related), running back Wendell Smallwood (not injury related) and quarterback Carson Wentz (back) were full practice participants.
The Eagles’ sleep research and sports science people have been involved in getting players acclimated to the trip. For those who cannot sleep on red eye flights, guys like tight end Zach Ertz, here’s a suggestion from a veteran...
“It’s no different than normal people,” Long said. “Just load up on prescription meds.”
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The Eagles put defensive end Derek Barnett, who underwent shoulder surgery, on injured reserve.
That opened a roster spot for cornerback Chandon Sullivan, who was promoted from the practice squad. At
5-11, 195 pounds, Sullivan is an undrafted rookie out of Georgia State who intercepted seven passes in a fouryear career there. •••
NOTES >> Wentz is among only three quarterbacks with at least 10 passing touchdowns and one or fewer interceptions this season. The others are Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (12 TDs, one interception) and New Orleans’ Drew Brees (13, 0). … Gus Bradley, the 2013 runner-up to Chip Kelly in the Eagles’ search for a head coach, is defensive coordinator of the Jaguars. Bradley was head coach of the Jaguars the last time these teams met, in 2014. The Jaguars grabbed a 17-0 lead but lost, 34-17, at the Linc in the season opener. Including his work as defensive coordinator of the Seahawks, Bradley is 1-1 versus the Eagles. … The Eagles played at Wembley Stadium one other time, losing a 1991 preseason game with the Buffalo Bills. Rich Kotite was the head coach and Merrill Reese’s biggest headache was getting around on a meniscus he tore the day before the trip. After a week of hobbling, Reese switched from tennis to golf. And no, there won’t be time to visit St. Andrew’s. Most of the team returns early Monday morning.