Darby unlikely to return to action Monday night
The Eagles aren’t in a hurry to rush cornerback Ronald Darby back into action.
Sidelined since dislocating an ankle in the season opener, Sept. 10, Darby is in the sixth week of a four-to-six week projected return. Gruesome as the injury appeared, the player carted off the field in the first half at FedEx Field, it didn’t require surgery that almost certainly would have ended his season.
Darby practiced in every Eagles practice this week and hasn’t formally been ruled out Monday, when the Eagles oppose the Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field.
“He’s looked well,” head coach Doug Pederson said at his news conference Saturday. “It’s day by day with him. We’ll get through today’s practice with him. Obviously we’ve limited his reps during practice. But he is doing well. We’ll get through today and tomorrow to make a decision for Monday.”
The Eagles list Darby, and lnebackers Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) and Jordan Hicks (calf), and running back Wendell Smallwood (knee) questionable for the Redskins. All of them practiced fully except Darby.
Pederson said Kendricks and Hicks are both “doing well” and execpts them to be “fine for the game.” Smallwood said earlier in the week he’s been cleared to play.
The Eagles lead the NFL with a 5-1 record but have lost two straight home games to the Redskins (32), who they defeated, 3017 in the season opener at FedEx Field.
The Redskins have greater injury concerns as cornerback Josh Norman (rib) is listed out along with guard Ty Nsekhe (core muscle).
Questionable are left tackle Trent Williams (knee), cornerback Bashaud Breeland (knee), safeties Deshazor Everett (hamstring) and Stefan McClure (knee), linebacker Mason Foster (shoulder) and running back Rob Kelley (knee).
The Eagles are six-point favorites versus the Redskins, who have won five of the last six games in the series.