Ertz activated for Dallas games
PHILADELPHIA » Zach Ertz is back.
The Eagles put him back on the practice field Saturday, the tight end activated from the COVID-19 list and anticipate him playing in their Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
The not so good news is the Eagles will be without the services of two starting offensive linemen in the game. Jordan Mailata and his ailing knee join Brandon Brooks (Injured Reserve) on the sideline and necessitating a start by Andre Dillard at left tackle. Mailata was hurt Friday.
“He went back in after he got rolled up on in practice, and then he came in and was having some pain in there,” head coach Nick Sirianni said Saturday. “We’re going to just play it by ear. We don’t really know exactly yet, but we’re hoping to have sooner than later, but yeah, he’ll be out this week.”
Sirianni said the immediate plan is to keep Mailata on the 53-man roster. Brooks (pectoral muscle) is out at least three games per IR regulations. Injuries of course are subject to change.
For Dillard, who wasn’t available for interviews Saturday, it’s yet another chance to prove himself worthy of a starting role. The Eagles traded up to draft Dillard with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2019 draft. He has not distinguished himself in 18 career games, four of them starts.
In training camp, Dillard was famously beaten out for the starting left tackle job by Mailata, a seventhround pick from Australia who hadn’t played football until 2018. A few weeks later Mailata signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension.
As far as Sirianni is concerned, Dillard’s failures are in the past. The big guy has a new slate starting Monday.
“I can’t say what happened in the past here,” Sirianni said. “Since I’ve gotten here, I’ve had complete confidence in him. I know he had that injury that set him back a little bit in training camp, but I’ve had complete confidence in him ever since I’ve got here. Then he gets that Jets (preseason) game and the Jets practices and the New England practices, and I just think he’s looked really good.
“Based off what I’ve seen, I’ve got a ton of confidence in Andre and look forward to … the challenge that Andre has and looking forward to watching him step up and fill Jordan’s role and have a good game.”
Landon Dickerson is the other first-time starter this season for the Eagles. He struggled in relief of Brooks last week.
While Sirianni beat himself up over the unsuccessful red zone plays he called last week in the 17-11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Dickerson’s rough time was a factor.
Sirianni spoke earlier in the week of creating a game plan with contingencies for Ertz playing or sitting out this Monday. With less conviction, the coach denied that he would have to modify the game plan again to account for the changes up front.
“No, I mean, you just want to be able to do the things that you feel like your team does well and your guys do well,” Sirianni said. “And so, I just think there’s a set of plays that we have that we’re ready to roll in and feel comfortable if any of the guys have to step in and make a play.”
All of which should make for an interesting story line when the Eagles, now 3 ½-point underdogs, oppose the Cowboys Monday.
The Cowboys’ defensive line is ravaged by injury starting with DeMarcus Lawrence. Edge Randy Gregory could be back. Rookie linebacker Micach Parsons is seeing time rushing the passer. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn likely will have a plan to disrupt what little continuity the Eagles have on the offensive line. Dickerson might have a tougher time than Dillard, who Sirianni insists has shown him “confidence.
“I’ve seen him be able to shut the pass rush down in our practice,” Sirianni said. “We gave him a couple different looks of different scout team players to go against, and I feel really confident in Andre, and he should feel confident in himself.”
Nine-year veteran Ertz shouldn’t have much trouble assimilating himself back into the game plan. He might find himself helping Dillard block if the Cowboys pass rush becomes too aggressive.
“We talk about practice all the time, how important practice is to get yourself ready to play in the game, but this is a long NFL season, so at times it’s case by case,” Sirianni said. “We have so many walkthroughs and so many meetings, and really this is the most walkthrough reps I’ve ever had as far as on a coaching staff. I’m comfortable mentally in just you get them out there and get some reps physically. I’m comfortable with how they’re prepared to get ready to play.”
*** Elsewhere on the injury report, the Eagles listed questionable are running back Boston Scott (illness) and linebacker Davion Taylor (calf).
Scott was the only one in the group who didn’t practice Saturday.
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The Cowboys will be without the services of linebacker Keanu Neal, who remains on the COVID list after flunking a test.