‘Minor injury’ could be tough setback for Foles
After tests, Nick Foles appears to have a minor injury to his throwing shoulder, according to a report by NFL Network. The damage will likely keep Foles from getting the work he needs to be ready for the season opener.
Foles looked lost Thursday long before defensive end Adrian Clayburn spun him around like a top in the 37-20 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Foles was wild on a deep throw to start the game, and his pass on third down of that series almost was intercepted. Even his seconddown pitch to Jay Ajayi needed work, the running back losing six yards.
The second Eagles series was another three-and-out and Foles ran six plays on his third series.
Before Foles took the field for his fourth, and final series, he’d completed one of seven passes, was 1-for-4 on third down and, including the sacks, netted just three yards. Tom Brady and the Patriots had 111 yards and 10 points at that time.
Foles wasn’t helped by left tackle Hal Vaitai, who struggled to block Clayburn, or anyone, for that matter. The Birds’ wide receiver corps, depleted by injuries, didn’t come to the rescue, either, as Mike Wallace made a weak attempt to get at one throw and ran a pattern one yard out of bounds on another.
Foles also tried to do too much, waiting too long to get rid of the ball, finally paying the price for it.
“It was inconsistent, three-andouts,” right tackle Lane Johnson said of the first-team offense. “We didn’t move the ball, we had penalties. We just didn’t look crisp and we didn’t look sharp and that is not who we want to be. That is what preseason is about. Try getting these little mistakes out of the way.”
The Eagles got a spark from quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Sudfeld showed off his arm, completing a 57-yard throw to Shelton Gibson and a 31-yard TD to Rashard Davis. Earlier, Gibson faked a slant and broke outside to haul in a four-yard scoring pass from Sudfeld, who later rifled a 17-yard score to tight end Richard Rodgers.
“I thought he did some nice things, had some really nice throws,” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said of Sudfeld. “I thought overall, he played pretty well.”
The Eagles might not need Foles to be ready for the opener, as Carson Wentz is slated to return to the demanding 11-on-11 practices this week.
If Wentz isn’t ready for opening day, which is a little less than three weeks away, there’s always Sudfeld.
“It felt good to play that long,” Sudfeld said. “I was pretty encouraged we were able to move the ball down the field. Obviously, I was disappointed we weren’t able to score just before the half. But it was fun to get into a rhythm and see some different looks.”
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In two preseason games the Eagles have committed 20 penalties, including nine against the Patriots.
Three of five first-quarter penalties were calls that league officials are strictly enforcing, including a hit by Malcolm Jenkins on a defenseless opponent, a penalty on Rodney McLeod for lowering his head to initiate contact and a flag on Nigel Bradham for blindsiding an opponent already in the grasp, when he had the option to avoid him.
Jenkins put a lick on Cordarrelle Patterson after a pass was incomplete.
“I asked why it took so long to throw the flag, to which he responded that he was processing it,” Jenkins said. “The explanation I got for the flag was that I didn’t have to hit him, which is kind of opposite of what my job description is, so I don’t understand that.”
McLeod said he was told that he led with the crown of his helmet on running back James White, who also lowered his head.
“I went low and led with my shoulder and he saw me coming and he obviously tried to get lower himself,” McLeod said. “They made the call and I asked the referee why he called it.”
Jenkins and McLeod are hopeful the rules won’t be so strictly enforced in the regular season.
“As players we just have to adjust with the rules and I am hoping that these calls that were called tonight are not going to be called on a consistent basis,” McLeod said. “I felt like a lot of those were not fouls. The league makes rules and we have to be able to adjust.”
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With Rodgers being evaluated for a knee injury, the Eagles might have to bring in a veteran tight end who knows how to block, and maybe even knows their system. Brent Celek, anyone?
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Wide receivers Bryce Treggs and Kamar Aiken injured their hamstrings Thursday.
The list of injured Eagles who didn’t play included cornerback Jalen Mills, receivers Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins and Markus Wheaton, and running backs Donnell Pumphrey and Josh Allen. Running backs Corey Clement and Darren Sproles also were held out of the game, as was offensive tackle Jason Peters.
Receiver Tim Wilson, the product of Radnor High, played just the last series of the Patriots game. Ditto quarterback Joe Callahan (Wesley College), receiver Anthony Mahoungo, offensive tackles Jordan Mailata and Aaron Evans, guard Darrell Greene and center Jon Toth.
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NOTES » Rasul Douglas started outside at cornerback in place of Jalen Mills. Douglas registered three tackles and didn’t get beat for a TD. … Sidney Jones started at slot corner, with rookie Avonte Maddox rotating in. Maddox gave up a red zone TD to Chris Hogan. Brady looked upset that Derrick Barnett shoved him to the ground at the end of that play. … Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby was unbeatable on the left side, which Jalen Mills enjoys playing. Darby broke up two Brady passes, which is two more than the Eagles did in SB LII . ... Shelton Gibson was outstanding on kickoff returns, gaining 121 yards on four attempts, including a 46-yarder . ... Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Graham and Chris Maragos still haven’t been cleared to practice.