Birds not leaking any QB secrets
PHILADELPHIA » The Eagles got ready to play the Falcons with, what’s this, Nate Sudfeld behind center?
Offensive tackle Lane Johnson threw the name out there when asked to identify the guy that Doug Pederson won’t.
“I can’t say,” Johnson said. “I’d love to tell you but you’ll have to wait until Thursday night. It don’t matter to me. None of those guys are going to help me block Vic Beasley or Brooks Reed. So, it don’t mean a thing to me, honestly.”
An NFL report stating that Nick Foles would get the start had Doug Pederson fuming. The head coach thinks he’s giving away a competitive advantage by refusing to name the starter. Carson Wentz hasn’t been cleared for contact as he works his way back from knee surgery.
Johnson was serious about his blocking assignments not changing whoever the quarterback happens to be.
“Carson is maybe able to escape a little bit more,” Johnson said.
But other than that, it really doesn’t change a lot.”
The Eagles haven’t looked sharp offensively in the preseason, particularly in the giveaway department. They’ve turned the ball over 13 times in 16 quarters.
Slot receiver Nelson Agholor, slowed by a hamstring in the preseason, practiced Sunday. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who hasn’t practiced at all as he comes back from rotator cuff surgery, was able to get back on the field and run. Jason Peters worked in at left tackle.
“We’re getting some guys in that haven’t been in for a while,” Johnson said. “We’re doing the best we can with what we have. You wish you could have everybody but we’ll make do.”
Look for a quarterback announcement from Doug Pederson around Tuesday. Until then, the players have been told to be silent.
“Don’t even go there,” linebacker Jordan Hicks said. “I saw the (news conference) last week where everybody was asking those stupid questions.”
••• The Eagles claimed Seahawks linebacker D.J. Alexander off waivers.
Alexander (6-1, 233) is a 2015 fifth-round pick of the Chiefs who was dealt to the Seahawks. He was a Pro Bowl special teams player a couple of years ago. Last year he had a concussion issue.
Linebacker Joe Walker was released to make room on the roster.
The Eagles formed their 10-man practice squad out of players who had spent much of the offseason with them.
The group on offense includes running back Josh Adams, tight end Billy Brown, wide receivers Rashard Davis and Greg Ward and center Jon Toth.
The rest of the squad is composed of cornerbacks De’Vante Bausby and Chandon Swullivan, linebacker Asantay Brown, defensive tackle Winston Craig and defensive end Joe Ostman.
The Super Bowl LII championship sign Malcolm Jenkins objected to was moved from the locker room to the wall outside the locker room.
Jenkins and other players don’t want to be reminded of what was as they turn the page to the 2018 season.
The next moving on hurdle, if you will, figures to be the season opener Thursday. That’s when the Super Bowl championship banner will be raised before the game.
“Some people have different opinions on it,” Brandon Graham said. “But you can take it either way. For me, once the game comes I know what it’s all about – it’s all about winning that day. We know how hard it is to win in this league. My focus is the Falcons. Me seeing that banner is just reminding me that we’ve got to work even harder because now everybody is gunning for us. That’s how I take it.”
••• And finally, taped to the stool in Nigel Bradham’s locker was an NFL notice that he’d been randomly chosen to give a sample.
Bradham cannot return until next Friday as he’s suspended for the opener for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.