Birds working out kickers in wake of injury for Sturgis
PHILADELPHIA » The Eagles are working out kickers to step in for Caleb Sturgis, who hurt his left hip Sunday against the Redskins.
Coach Doug Pederson didn’t name names or offer anything on the severity of the injury but confirmed that the Eagles are checking out replacements.
The group includes veteran Mike Nugent, according to a report. Former Eagles kicker Cody Parkey also is available.
“We’re going to get some more information on him before we make a statement,” Pederson said of Sturgis. “He did an admirable job of finishing that game. It was early in the game. It’s his lower body, his hip. We just have to get some more information.”
Sturgis will be sidelined several weeks with an injury to his quadriceps, per Ian Rapaport of the NFL Network. Additionally cornerback Ronald Darby will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a dislocated ankle that won’t require surgery, per Rapaport. And that’s the good injury news.
“We need to get some more information on this before we make a full statement on this,” Pederson said. “As we look at it, if Rasul Douglas is in there, if Jaylen Watkins is in there. … We’ll try to keep Patrick Robinson in the nickel spot as much as we can. He’s been comfortable in there. And then the three safeties that we have, we know Malcolm Jenkins can play nickel and Corey Graham can. It’s going to be one of those situations where it’s going to take all hands on deck these next few weeks to get the job done.”
Offensive tackle Jason Peters is day-to-day with a groin injury that set off alarms Sunday. Pederson praised Hal Vaitai for filling in at left tackle without the week to practice.
That said, the Eagles must decide if that’s the direction they want to go if there’s a reoccurrence in the 35-year-old Peters this week when they oppose the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
“Big V I thought stepped in with really limited reps at practice during the week and did well,” Pederson said. “Was it perfect? No. Those are conversations we’ll have the next couple of days.”
Moving left guard Isaac Seumalo to tackle is a consideration according to Pederson.
Right tackle Lane Johnson can play left tackle. Chance Warmack, who was scratched Sunday, has played left guard.
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The Eagles are 4 ½ point underdogs versus the Chiefs this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs are coming off a season-opening 42-27 rout of the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots at Gillette Stadium last week.
Pederson has a pretty good idea of what to expect this weekend as he was Reid’s coordinator two years at Kansas City.
“It’s tough, it’s loud, it’s a great atmosphere,” Pederson said. “The fans are right on top of you. Arrowhead Stadium is right on top of you. It’s a great place to play.”
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith sent a message to rookie backup Patrick Mahomes, who Reid selected after trading up in the first round of the draft.
Smith completed 28 of 35 (80 percent) passes for 368 yards, four touchdowns and a 148.6 passer rating. He leads the league in most of the major passing categories.
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NOTES » Fletcher Cox’s touchdown and “bug eye” celebration Sunday with Vinny Curry made the rounds online. A firstquarter sack of Kirk Cousins gives Cox 29 ½ career sacks, tied with the late Jerome Brown for fourthmost by an Eagles defensive tackle. Only Andy Harmon (39 ½, 1991-97), Ken Clarke (32 ½, 1978-87) and Corey Simon (32, 2000-04) have more. The strip-sack resulted in a fumble recovered by Jordan Hicks. … Brandon Graham recorded two sacks to give him 30 in his career. That nudges him past Cox and Brown and into 16th on the alltime Eagles list. … Carson Wentz is the fourth quarterback to win his first two opening-day starts with the Eagles since 1950. The others are Mike Vick (2011-12), Norm Snead (1964-65) and Adrian Burk (1951-52).