Injury woes mount for 1st-place Eagles

Staying on top became a little tougher for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters and starting linebacker Jordan Hicks will miss the rest of the season after being injured in Monday’s 34-24 win over Washington.

Peters tore his right ACL and MCL and Hicks ruptured his right Achilles tendon. Those are two big losses for the NFL-leading Eagles (6-1).

“Both of them are obviously significant,” head coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday. “They will be missed.”

The Eagles already lost return specialist Darren Sproles and special-teams ace Chris Maragos to season-ending injuries. Cornerback Ronald Darby has been out since Week 1 with an ankle injury.

“When you look at the injury list and the guys that we’ve lost, guys that are significant starters and role players, leaders on your football team, captains of your football team, it can make an impact,” Pederson said. “It’s definitely the next-man-up (mentality). We still have a lot of football left.”

Peters has anchored Philadelphia’s offensive line for a decade.

“He is a legend around here,” quarterback Carson Wentz said. “He is a future Hall of Famer. We love that guy.”

The Eagles host the 49ers (0-7) on Sunday. Freeney to Seattle: Defensive end Dwight Freeney is back in the NFL after agreeing to a deal to join the Seahawks.

The Seahawks announced they had agreed to terms on a deal with Freeney on Tuesday night after bringing him in for a visit. The 37-year-old spent last season with Atlanta.

Freeney will have a specific role as a pass rusher with Seattle, adding depth after defensive end Cliff Avril was placed on injured reserve last week with a neck injury. Briefly: The Packers signed receiver Max McCaffrey, older brother of Stanford alum and Carolina running back Christian, to the practice squad and released offensive lineman Don Barclay from injured reserve. ... Cornerback Byron Maxwell has been released by the Dolphins, who signed quarterback David Fales, a San Jose State alum. With Jay Cutler nursing cracked ribs, Fales is expected to back up Matt Moore in Thursday’s game at Baltimore. ... The Chargers signed welltraveled offensive lineman Michael Ola . ... Former Colts defensive end and current assistant coach Robert Mathis was jailed on a preliminary charge of driving while intoxicated.