Darby out for season with torn ACL
Eagles’ corner lost for season as secondary takes yet another hit
PHILADELPHIA >> The Philadelphia Eagles lost another key player for the season.
Cornerback Ronald Darby tore his ACL in the second half of Philadelphia’s 27-20 loss to Dallas on Sunday night, leaving the defending Super Bowl champions without half their starting secondary. Safety Rodney McLeod sustained a season-ending knee injury in September.
Starting cornerback Jalen Mills and starting nickel cornerback Sidney Jones didn’t play against the Cowboys because of injuries so rookie free agent Chandon Sullivan filled in for Darby. Rasul Douglas, Tre Sullivan and Corey Graham were other reserves already playing. Mills isn’t expected to return this week, but Jones is a possibility.
“It’s hard because you’re asking players that maybe don’t get a lot of practice time during the week to come and play,” coach Doug Pederson said Monday.
“They’re on the look teams. Maybe they’re giving a look to
“It’s hard because you’re asking players that maybe don’t get a lot of practice time during the week to come and play.” – Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach Doug Pederson on replacing Ronald Darby, who suffered a torn ACL in Sunday night’s game.
the offense or whatever it is. Next thing you know, they’re having to play. We’ve just got to continue to coach those guys up just like we do everybody, and make sure now moving forward that they’re ready. I thought Chandon Sullivan stepped in and did some nice things out there, and it’s going to be the same again this week with those guys.”
Darby was acquired from Buffalo in August 2017 for wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a 2018 thirdround pick. Matthews returned to the Eagles this season.
Darby missed eight games last season after suffering an ankle injury in Week 1, but still was tied for second on the team with three interceptions. He led the Eagles with 22 tackles and seven pass deflections in the playoffs and led the team with 18 pass breakups this season.
Darby is in the final season of his rookie contract so his future is uncertain. Starting running back Jay Ajayi, who is also in a similar contract situation, went down for the season with an ACL injury during a game at home against the Minnesota Vikings in October.
With Darby being placed on injured reserve, he joins running back Ajayi, defensive end Derek Barnett, defensive backs McLeod and Elie Bouka, wide receivers Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins, tight end Richard Rodgers and linebacker Paul Worrilow from the 53man roster.
The Eagles (4-5) visit New Orleans (8-1) next.
The Saints currently lead the NFL with an average 36.7 points through nine games. Maintaining that pace for the rest of the regular season would put them third all-time in scoring behind the 2013 Denver Broncos (37.9 points per game) and the 2007 New England Patriots (36.8). And the way the Saints are playing, their current scoring average could very well increase before the season is out. They’ve scored at least 40 points in five of nine games so far.
They’ve also added yet another potential receiving target, signing veteran Brandon Marshall on Monday.
Eleven different Saints have gotten in the end zone this season, including Brees, who dove over the pile at the line of scrimmage for his third rushing TD this season during Sunday’s 51-14 triumph at Cincinnati. The 39-year-old veteran quarterback also is having one of his most efficient seasons, completing 77.3 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only one interception so far on the year.
It will be a tall task this Sunday for an Eagles team that is far from healthy in the defensive secondary.