Kicker Elliott still being evaluated after head kick
PHILADELPHIA » The Eagles are reluctant to change placekickers at this point in the season despite the concussion to Jake Elliott, and the depth they have with Caleb Sturgis.
Head coach Doug Pederson indicated at a news conferenceMonday that Elliottmight not have a severe concussion.
“He’s in our protocol, so we’ll evaluate him more,” Pederson said. “We haven’t made any decisions yet this week. We’ve still got a couple of days before we have to make any decisions on kickers.”
Elliott likely was hurt tackling Ryan Switzer on the opening kickoff. Pederson said he was “unaware until the trainers came up to me and said he was being evaluated.”
That was after Elliott missed a 34-yard field goal attempt.
While Pederson played defense, explaining the Eagles would “find out more in the next couple days with Jake,” he’s at least considered the Birds’ top kicking option going forward.
“I think so,” Pederson said. “If he’s healthy and can play, you’d hate to disrupt that right now. So I’d have to say yes to that.”
Sturgis injured his hip in the opener against the Washington Redskins. It’s unclear if he’s 100 percent, although he’s been seen around the Eagles’ locker room.
“He’s continuing to rehab,” Pederson said. “He’s begun a kicking regimen. So yeah, he’s getting himself back to where he was prior to the injury. So he’s close.”
Sturgis couldn’t be reached for comment. If he’s healthy, and Elliott isn’t cleared to play, the Eagles have another interesting roster decision to make. They’re already keeping a third quarterback in Nate Sudfeld.
“You’re talking about roster spots andmakingmoves and things of that nature, and we’re not there yet,” Pederson said. “So we’re going to continue these discussions in the next couple days.”
Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill kicked off for the Eagles when Elliott was forced to the sideline in the Eagles’ 37-9 Sunday night win over the Dallas Cowboys.
In the absence of Elliott, who booted one PAT, the Eagles converted three of four two-point conversions rather than attempt extra point kicks.
*** Since Pederson arrived, the Eagles have converted 9-of-12 two-point attempts, including 6-of-7 this season.
After losing Elliott, they opened up the two-point playbook against the Cowboys, using, among other formations, a bunch formation with three receivers on the right side to block for Corey Clement, who caught a 90-degree pass in the flat.
The Eagles were 3-for-4 on attempts versus the Cowboys, Alshon Jeffery and Trey Burton catching passes as well. Jeffery leads the squad with three twopointers.
Pederson obviously likes the plays and yes, he’s dreamed about going Mike Tomlin and using it much more frequently.
“You always go into a game with a few in your pocket,” Pederson said. “You never expect that situation again like we had last night. But yeah, you look at the numbers, if you’re around 94, 95 percent on the extra point from the 15-yard line, your conversion rate should be in that 47, 48, 49 percent on a twopoint conversion. So we look at all of that.
“We keep a couple extra plus-five red zone plays in our pocket for that situation. It just worked out … We really could have been 4-for-4. It’s something we’ll look at going forward.”
*** The Eagles ran the trap time and again Sunday night on the way to 215 rushing yards, the most in an NFL game this season.
The backs were solid with Jay Ajayi rushing for 91 yards, giving him 15 carries for 169 yards (11.2 average) and one touchdown in just two appearances with the Eagles.
The trap blocking of tackles Lane Johnson and Hal Vaitai was outstanding. Vaitai has done a solid job in place of the injured Jason Peters.
“I’ll tell you what, he’s another one that’s just incrementally getting better and better and better,” Pederson said. “I’m calling less protection help to his side. He’s just really coming into his own, and he’s trusting his instinct, trusting his skill, trusting his coaching.”
Johnson’s block sprung Ajayi for a 71-yard run, setting up Carson Wentz’s 11- yard scoring pass to Torrey Smith. It gave the Eagles a 23-9 lead in the third quarter.
“We ran it several times, and I believe we went to the left, so it would have been Lane that was coming around the horn right there and it was just wellblocked,” Pederson said. “It’s a north and south, between the tackles play. Well blocked; just hit it and he took off.”
*** NOTES» Nigel Bradhamhas been making the calls in the absence of injured Eagle middle linebacker Jordan Hicks. But Joe Walker has made a contribution as well. “Joe has filled in really nice,” Pederson said. “I think Joe had a little under 20 snaps last night in the game. We’re playing so much sub-defense. It’s just the next guy has to step up. Nigel has done a great job in that regard but Joe has filled in nice, as well.” ... ESPN offered this stat pertinent to the Eagles, who are 9-1: 33 of 67 teams to start 9-1 have to the Super Bowl. Seventeen have won it. The last team to do so was the Seattle Seahawks in 2013. They started 11-1 and routed the Denver Broncos, 43-8, in Super Bowl XLVIII in New York.