Cox one of nine Birds held out of practice
Nine Eagles were held out of practice Wednesday, the list topped by All-Pro defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (abdomen).
The others who didn’t work were wide receivers DeSean Jackson (hamstring) and JJ Arcega-Whiteside (calf), offensive linemen Jamon Brown (illness), Jack Driscoll (illness) and Jason Peters (illness) and defensive backs Rudy Ford (groin), Avonte Maddox (ankle) and Trevor Williams (rib).
The offensive line illnesses aren’t COVID related according to a team spokesman.
Limited in practice per the Eagles were wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (foot), offensive tackle Lane Johnson (ankle), center Jason Kelce (not injury related - rest) and running back Miles Sanders (glute).
Meanwhile the 49ers, who host the Eagles Sunday night, welcomed tight end George Kittle (bone bruise, MCL) back for full practice, along with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who hasn’t played this season coming back from foot surgery.
That’s not good news for an Eagles defense terrorized by tight ends and big receivers this season, the unit surrendering six touchdowns through the air. Kittle is a major part of the 49ers’ offense.
“I mean, he’s an All-Pro tight end,” Eagles safety Rodney McLeod said. “Very skilled, runs good routes but most importantly yards after the catch. We have to limit that. We have to be able to tackle well in the back end. We have to cover well, if he is out there. He’s a good blocker. It’s going to be physical. It starts with their run game.”
The good news is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) still hasn’t been cleared to practice, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Nick Mullens threw a touchdown pass and didn’t turn the ball over last week as the 49ers rolled to a 36-9 victory over the New York Giants. Mullens is 4-5 as the starter for the Niners.
With Raheem Mostert nursing a sprained MCL, the Niners rushed for just 93 yards against the Giants, ending a streak of 11 straight games with 100 or more rushing yards.
Mullens threw for 343 yards and the Niners got two sacks and three takeaways without the injured Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas.
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The Eagles will be without the services of rookie firstround pick Jalen Reagor for at least three games.
Reagor, who broke his thumb in Week 2, on Wednesday joined tight end Dallas Goedert (broken ankle) on injured reserve. That leaves the Eagles without two of their Week 1 starters on offense.
The Eagles hoped Reagor might return in less than three weeks. Had they not suffered another wave of injuries in their 23-23 draw with the Bengals, Reagor’s roster spot wouldn’t be such a commodity.
The likely candidate to claim it is rookie wide receiver Quez Watkins (6-0,
185), who practiced Wednesday and is eligible to come off injured reserve. The sixthround pick out of Southern Mississippi was having a solid training camp before injuring a hamstring.
Reagor has five catches for
96 yards in two games, including a 55-yarder in the opener.
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The COVID-19 outbreak on the Titans indirectly gives the Eagles a scheduling break.
The Steelers, who host the Eagles in two weeks, won’t play the Titans until Monday or Tuesday while the NFL evaluates the scope of outbreak.
That means the Steelers’ schedule will be disrupted, the team losing at least one day because three Titans players and five staff members tested positive for COVID. The Titans’ practice facility is closed through Saturday.
The winless Eagles will fly
home from the West Coast late Sunday night and basically be wiped out on Monday.
The undefeated Steelers also will have to deal with jet lag.
Now, if the Eagles or the 49ers experience COVID-19 outbreaks all of that could change.
So far, head coach Doug Pederson, Lane Johnson, Nate Gerry and Jordan Mailata are the only Eagles to contract COVID.
“It’s unfortunate to see that take place between those teams,” McLeod said. “I’m interested to see how this plays out. I’m not sure how much practice time they’ll be able to get in this
week. It just shows you how serious this virus is.”
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Another good sign for the Eagles this week is that referee Bill Vinovich and his crew will officiate the game.
The Eagles have won three of the last four games Vinovich has officiated.
Nothing against Adrian Hill, who refereed last week. But in this, the age of “clear and obvious” calls, his crew went flag-happy Sunday. It totaled 20 penalties for 166 yards, seven flags resulting in first downs.
A few of the calls impacted the game, including a hold on Eagles guard Nate Herbig in overtime.