Pederson lobbies for defensive tackle help
PHILADELPHIA » Trying hard not to jump offside, Doug Pederson Monday finally flinched.
While determined not to interfere as Howie Roseman handled the dwindling hours before the 4 p.m. Tuesday NFL trade deadline, the Eagles’ coach finally let a semi-demand slip: Add defensive line help.
“It’s a little bit of a fine line,” Pederson said Monday at the NovaCare Complex, when asked specifically if the Eagles needed a particular boost at the deadline. “I look at our injury situation and who is coming back and where we are. Obviously you put words in my mouth a little bit, but you can point to, you can say, ‘OK, D-tackle,’ with the amount of injures we’ve had there. But honestly, it’s a little tricky because if there’s a move to be made, a person has to be the right fit. It has to be the right timing. He has to be able to come in here and help us win and just add to our culture and add to the roster.”
Through half of the regular-season, including a soothing 31-13 victory Sunday in Buffalo, the Eagles have done a little winning, a little losing, and too much training-room time. But with Tim Jernigan out since Week 2 due to a foot injury, with free-agent prize Malik Jackson on injured reserve with a Week 1 broken foot, and with Hassan Ridgeway hitting the IR last week with an ankle issue, they have been challenged to continue to fill holes in the middle of their defensive line.
Against the Bills, the Eagles paired Bruce Hector with Fletcher Cox at defensive tackle, mixing in Anthony Rush, who had just been reacquired from the Oakland Raiders’ practice roster. Albert Huggins, just lifted from the Texans’ practice group, also logged time.
By Monday afternoon, Hector, who had been on the practice-squad shuttle with the Eagles and Cardinals, was waived. While that could open defensive-tackle options, the Birds almost simultaneously acquired defensive end Genard Avery from Cleveland for an undisclosed 2021 draft choice.
Avery was a 2018 fifthround draft selection who had played to modest achievement for the Browns. But he will not likely change the dynamics of such an injury-challenged line.
“It’s kind of a work-inprogress,” Pederson said of his newer tackles. “I thought Rush did some good things, pushing the pocket a little bit. The other guys just have to keep working. It’s hard when you get doubleteamed and different things like that in there. There’s some timing involved. This will be a big week for them, kind of that second week in their development.”
Roseman may be patient enough to wait that out. But he may also respond to Pederson’s muffled call for a more substantial, tradedeadline defensive-tackle boost.
“Again, it has to be right,”
Pederson said. “We have to do what’s right for the Philadelphia Eagles and our team. We have to make sure that if it happens, the player coming in here is somebody that can help us. But at the same time, I look at our roster and where we are. And there are guys that are on the horizon as far as coming back and helping us out, too. That’s a part of this as well.
“If it happens, great, we’ll welcome that. But we’re always looking to add value and add depth, obviously, and go from there.”
Among the key players expected to return is DeSean Jackson, who has been out since Week 2 with an abdominal injury. Pederson said the Eagles will “incorporate him back into practice a little bit on Wednesday and see where he is as the week progresses.” Also, running back Darren Sproles, who has been out with a quadriceps injury, may begin to see practice-field time this week.
The Eagles may also begin to gain defensive help with the return of Avonte Maddox (neck, concussion) to practice. “We’re excited about that,” Pederson said. In addition, linebacker Nigel Bradham (ankle) is on a day-to-day basis.
The question: Can the Eagles afford to wait for better health, particularly on defense? Or must they make a meaningful move before sundown Tuesday? They were 4-4 last year and traded for receiver Golden Tate, with Roseman famously stressing that he would make any deal necessary to move closer to championship readiness. Coincidentally or not, they finished 9-7 and reached the playoffs.
Two years ago, Roseman traded for Jay Ajayi at the deadline. By February, the Eagles were world champions.
“Well, it’s always a sign of confidence when you can do that and bring in somebody that can help you continue to win,” Pederson said. “And obviously where we were last year, it was the same situation, basically.
“This year, our guys have kind of hung together and battled through a lot of adversity the first eight weeks of the season. We’ve battled injury. We’ve battled a lot of talk and things off the field. We’ve fought through that. So this team is starting to gel and come together.
“And so, if we can add a piece, I think it’s great. If we don’t add a piece, I think it’s great because of the guys in the locker room and I think that’s a credit to those men.”
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NOTES » Though cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc (foot) is eligible to be sprung from the injured-reserve list, Pederson said the Eagles “are not there yet.” … Jason Peters (knee) is not expected to practice or play this week. But Pederson’s day-after analysis was that Andre Dillard was particularly sharp at left tackle in his absence. … Miles Sanders injured a shoulder in Buffalo but is “going to be OK,” Pederson assured. … The Eagles will host the Chicago Bears Sunday afternoon at 1.