Pryor COVID listing means another change on O-line
Well traveled guard Jamon Brown will make his debut with the Eagles against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field after Matt Pryor was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.
Pryor, who started the last three games at right guard, will miss the contest due to illness. The reserve list designation is used on players who test positive for COVID or have been in close contact with an infected person.
Brown gives the Eagles their fifth different starting offensive line this season. The Eagles’ injured reserved list includes guards Isaac Seumalo and Brandon Brooks, and tackles Andre Dillard and Jason Peters.
The 6-4, 340-pound Brown started nine games last year for the Atlanta Falcons and has 47 starts in six NFL seasons.
“I’m going to take the experiences I’ve had over the past five years and plug it into this system and go from there,” Brown said Friday. “I’ve played a lot of football. It hasn’t been too big of an adjustment here. It’s just converting terminologies and techniques.”
Brown entered the league as a third-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2015 after a limited career with Louisville when Teddy Bridgewater played quarterback. The Eagles are his fifth team.
“He’s played and started in this league,” head coach Doug Pederson said. “He’s been with us now for a couple of weeks. Whenever we get a new player it’s about catching them up to speed on our playbook and he’s done a really nice job. He’s a smart guy and he’s aggressive coming off the ball. He fits in really well. He had a good day yesterday and he’ll have another one today.”
Center Jason Kelce and guard Nate Herbig are the only players to start every game on the offensive line for the Eagles. Right tackle Lane Johnson, who has shin and ankle issues, has been ruled out this weekend.
Look for rookie Jack Driscoll, who started the opener at right tackle, to step in.
“Jack has done a nice job and he’s played all the way back to Week 1,” Pederson said. “He’s got a lot of time on task. This guy, he’s all about business and that’s what you like about Jack Driscoll as a young player. Another opportunity for him to get better this week.
Brown has practiced next to Driscoll. After calling “swag” the strength of his game, then laughing about it, Brown locked in on experience.
“I’ve helped a few organizations win some games and have some success,” Brown said. “I think I’m aggressive. I think I’m bringing that to the table, my personality, my aggression. We’ll see how it works out on Sunday.”
The Eagles play two games in five days, the latter a Thursday night affair against the New York Giants.
Brown was sent home and missed a practice this week due to illness. He passed COVID-19 tests but had basic symptoms mandating he stay home.
Brown felt he could have practiced. And if he was a fan, yes, he’d attend the game, which a crowd of others will so Sunday at the Linc.
“With a mask, I definitely would,” Brown said.
The Eagles (1-3-1) are 6.5-point underdogs versus the Ravens (41), the only team in football that’s scored in every quarter this season.
The Ravens are 22-0 when leading at the half with Lamar Jackson at quarterback and have won a franchise-record eight straight road games, outscoring the opposition 269-123.
Brown doesn’t want to get ahead of himself and think he has the guard job locked up if he plays well against the Ravens.
“I can’t really control that,” Brown said. “All I’m trying to do is go out there and be good enough to help us win this football game. I’ve just
got to be where my feet are. That’s making sure I’m able to block this front seven of the Ravens. They have a good football team. I’ll be ready.”
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Cornerback Darius Slay has been cleared to play from the concussion he sustained last weekend in Pittsburgh.
Pederson wasn’t asked about safety Will Parks, who has practiced all week and is eligible to come off injured reserve for the Ravens.
Parks would cover Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson’s go-to guy. The Eagles have struggled against tight ends this season.
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Pederson clearly is hesitant about putting receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery back on the field. Both were listed as out of action against the Ravens, along
with cornerback Avonte Maddiox, safety Marcus Epps (rib) and linebacker Duke Riley (rib).
Pederson said Jackson, inactive the past two games with a hamstring issue, “had a really good day yesterday” and is “hopeful things go well today.”
So much for hope. It’s entirely possible the Eagles want to keep Jackson healthy enough to move him before the Nov. 3 trade deadline.
With the emergence of Travis Fulgham, it’s unlikely the Eagles want to keep seven receivers. One of those roster spots belonged to seventh-round pick Casey Toohill, who was cut and claimed by Washington.
Jeffery (foot) has been taking scout team snaps at practice.
“We want to make sure he’s feeling good before we put him out there,” Pederson said.