Eagles shaky on top perch

After weak outing, QB Foles may play in No. 1 seed’s finale.

Before they tackle rest vs. rust, Philadelphia has to approach rest vs. reps.

With the NFC’s No. 1 seed secured, the Eagles (13-2) have nothing to gain against the Cowboys (8-7) on Sunday other than playing for a franchise-record 14th win.

But coach Doug Pederson can’t really rest all his starters because there aren’t enough players on the rosters.

Banged-up veterans such as defensive end Brandon Graham and left guard Stefen Wisniewski will get extra time off before the Eagles host a playoff game Jan. 13 or 14. Several others will have to play.

“You’re only limited to 46 (players), and you can only put seven guys down,” Pederson said Tuesday. “If you do the math, some of your starters have to play.”

Starting quarterback Nick Foles sure seemed as if he needs more time working with the receivers following a shaky performance in a 19-10 win over Oakland on Christmas night.

Foles has only played nine quarters since Carson Wentz tore his left ACL. On a cold, windy night against the Raiders, Foles was 19 of 38 for 163 yards with one TD and one interception. He didn’t complete any passes to top receiver Alshon Jeffery and most of his throws were short.

“I’ve got to play and get him as many reps as he can, and then be smart about it,” Pederson said. “But we’ll be smart and make good decisions there.”

Foles isn’t lobbying for playing time against Dallas.

“There’s good and bad, you can look at it either way,”

he said. “That’s where I trust the coaches. I’m going to continue to improve, continue to work and I trust whatever they say.”

Cowboys: Owner Jerry Jones said coach Jason Garrett will return for an eighth full season after Dallas missed the playoffs in a year marred by the six-game suspension of star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Jones said on his radio show Tuesday that Garrett’s job “is not an issue here at all” while suggesting there could be other changes to the coaching staff with several contracts expiring. Garrett has two years left on a fiveyear deal signed after Dallas won the NFC East in 2014.

Cardinals: Coach Bruce Arians said a report that he and the franchise have agreed to part ways after this season is untrue, labeling it “fake news.”

An article in Pro Football Weekly cited “multiple sources” as saying the split would come next week at the end of Arians’ fifth season

as the team’s coach.

Arians said Tuesday no decision has been made.

Patriots: James Harrison is no longer the odd man out or the oldest man in the locker room. The ex-Steelers star signed a one-year deal with New England on Tuesday, three days after his unceremonious departure from Pittsburgh.

The 39-year-old linebacker posted a photo on Instagram of himself with 40-year-old quarterback Tom Brady in New England’s locker room, writing that he finally has “a teammate that’s older than me!”

The AFC North champion Steelers released the fivetime Pro Bowl linebacker and 2008 NFL defensive player of the year Saturday to make roster room for right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who returned from suspension.

Broncos: Paxton Lynch will start at quarterback in the season finale against the Chiefs — providing he can play on his sprained left ankle that’s sidelined him for

more than a month.

Coach Vance Joseph said it doesn’t matter if Lynch is facing backups, he still wants another look at the 2016 firstround pick who has started only three NFL games.

Titans: Coach Mike Mularkey says he’s not ruling out DeMarco Murray of the regular-season finale against Jacksonville despite an injured right knee.

Mularkey says he hopes for a limited role for Murray, leaving Derrick Henry poised for the fourth start of his career.

Jaguars: Coach Doug Marrone said he has no plans to rest starters in the season finale at Tennessee even though Jacksonville is locked into its playoff seeding.

Giants: Pro Bowl safety Landon Collins will miss the first game of his three-year career Sunday because of a broken forearm that required surgery.

Panthers: Starting receiver Damiere Byrd will miss the remainder of the season with a leg injury.

AP Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) struggled throughout an ugly 19-10 victory against Eddie Vanderdoes and the Raiders on Monday night. In his second start in place of the injured Carson Wentz, Foles went 19 of 38 for 163 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception as Philadelphia (13-2) wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.