Changes do not hinge on Agholor
Pederson unlikely to make roster move if WR can’t go against Giants
PHILADELPHIA — Coach Doug Pederson said the Eagles likely will not make a roster move if wide receiver Nelson Agholor is unable to play Monday night against the Giants.
Agholor suffered a setback after returning from a knee injury in last Sunday’s 37-31 loss at Miami and did not practice this week. He is listed as questionable and one of only four wide receivers on the active roster, joining Alshon Jeffery, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward.
“We’re very comfortable with the guys we have,” Pederson said. “If it’s three, it’s three. We brought up [TE Josh Perkins] a week ago to help us there, so that’s an addition there. Then we go play. We’ll discuss those over the course of the next couple days leading up to the game.
“If we have to make a decision, we will. But we’re very comfortable and feel good with the guys we have in that receiver room.”
The Eagles also have three wideouts on the practice squad in Robert Davis, Marcus Green and Marken Michel, who was added Thursday.
Defensive end Derek Barnett (ankle) and linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill (concussion) also did not practice this week. Barnett is listed as questionable, and Grugier-Hill is out.
Running back Jordan Howard, who’s missed the last three games with a stinger, still has not been cleared for contact and is unlikely to play against the Giants. Per the injury report, he practiced on a limited basis this week and is listed as questionable.
Without Howard, rookie Miles Sanders once again would receive a heavy workload. He is coming off career-highs of 17 carries, five receptions and 83 rushing yards against the Dolphins.
Unlike the Eagles’ previous three opponents, the Giants actually have had fairly good success defending the run this season, having given up an average of just 3.9 yards per attempt.
What that will mean for the Eagles, who have turned to the pass more without Howard, is unclear.
“I really felt last week we took some steps with RB Miles Sanders,” Pederson said. “I thought he had a really good game rushing the football. Offensive line has done well and we continue to show improvement there with Miles.
” … I think you’re seeing the patience in the running game. His vision is better, it’s improved from week 1 to week 13. The more he gets time, the more he gets snaps, the better he’ll get.”
Right tackle Lane Johnson was not at practice on Friday or Saturday for personal reasons. His availability for the game is not expected to be an issue.
Circle of life
When word came the Miami Dolphins were interested in signing guard Sua Opeta off the Eagles’ practice squad, the Eagles reacted swiftly by promoting Opeta to the active roster and waiving wide receiver Mack Hollins, who was claimed by … the Dolphins.
For Opeta, choosing to stay in Philadelphia over moving to South Beach was a no-brainer.
“When I got the call, I was ecstatic,” Opeta said. “And now here I am on the 53-man.
“… This is arguably the best offensive line in the world right now, so I feel like being in the same room with these guys is really going to help me improve because I know what it looks like to be great. So I just feed off of that and keep working on it.”
Opeta is an undrafted rookie out of Weber State who was among the final cuts after the preseason but signed to the practice squad the next day.
He’s not sure if he’ll make any big purchases with his big pay bump, “but it will be a good Christmas for my family,” he said.
Giants injury report
TE Rhett Ellison (concussion), QB Daniel Jones (ankle), LB Chris Peace (knee), S Jabrill Peppers (back), CB Corey Ballentine (concussion) and TE Evan Engram (foot) are out. T Nate Solder (ankle) and WR Golden Tate (concussion) are expected to play.