Cox, Jeffery among Birds to sit out practice

PHILADELPHIA >> Five starting caliber Eagles sat out practice Wednesday including Fletcher Cox, the club’s best defensive player.

Cox (ankle), defensive end Derek Barnett (shoulder), running backs Darren Sproles (hamstring) and Corey Clement (quadricep) and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (chest) got the afternoon off.

Offensive tackle Jason Peters (quadricep) was listed as limited in practice.

Sproles hasn’t played since the opener. Clement was scratched last week and Jeffery is coming off his season debut.

While head coach Doug Pederson was vague discussing the injuries, he conceded the loss of the duo has impacted the run game that now can no longer turn the corner and get outside.

“When you don’t have Darren or Corey, those are kind of the guys that took the edge just a little bit,” Pederson said. “It changes. Not saying you limit yourself but at the same time you put in schemes that your backs are comfortable in running and that they’re good at.”

It doesn’t look like reinforcements are on the way at defensive tackle or in the secondary, where, two weekends ago, the Eagles lost safety Rodney McLeod to a knee injury.

Though tackle Tim Jernigan still is eligible to come off the non-football injury (NFI) reserve list in two weeks, Pederson was anything but optimistic given the chance to say Jernigan would return this season.

“He’s a guy that we’ll just continue to monitor,” Pederson said. “I don’t want to put a cap on him. Don’t want to limit him in any way and any other expectation than just him getting better and healthy at this time.”

Jernigan had surgery for a mysterious back injury that occurred over the offseason. He was a force last year, the Eagles signing him to a big contract extension. In the Super Bowl Jernigan clocked 39 snaps, one assisted tackle and two quar

NOTES >> PAGE 3

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) makes a catch Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.