Pederson urges caution after NFL’s scandal-plagued week

be in the community. They are going to be in the spotlight.”

The Washington Redskins also have come under fire recently for adding linebacker Reuben Foster. He’s been accused of assaulting a woman.

Pederson made it clear he has zero tolerance for such conduct.

“I am not going to get into all the policy stuff, obviously for protecting the Eagles,” Pederson said. “But there’s not a place for this kind of behavior, obviously, and it’s unfortunate because really, two great players for their respective teams and it’s just unfortunate. It’s something that you hope doesn’t happen and you just hate it for everybody involved because it’s not good, not good at all.”

••• Barring another setback, veteran Eagles running back Darren Sproles likely will return punts and play on third downs when the Eagles entertain the Redskins Monday night.

Sproles hasn’t played since the opener due a strained hamstring, but has practiced this week. He tried to return to practice two other times during his 10-week absence but had setbacks.

Pederson is hoping to limit him and keep him healthy this time around.

“I guess you can’t just say, ‘Hey, Darren, here is the game plan, let’s go, you’re back 100 percent, rocking and rolling; we are going to put you in and you are going to get X numbers of touches and return every punt and do all that,’” Pederson said. “I think that’s a disservice to him and in fairness to the rest of the guys. … For him it’s now about getting back to game speed and getting caught up with that and the physical nature of the game, (and) being tackled again.”

In Sproles’ stead, rookie Josh Adams has taken over the starting job at running back. Corey Clement has been the next man up ahead of Wendell Smallwood of late.

••• With cornerbacks Sidney Jones (hamstring) and Rasul Douglas (knee) healthy enough to play Monday, it will be interesting to see what kind of roles they are asked to take on.

Neither player has done a great job of tackling lately, which could be partly due to the injuries.

“Sidney and Rasul have done well this week in practice and again we’ll get another day today,” Pederson said. “I would say they are on track to helping us defensively in the game. As far as starting, those are things that we just have to get through today and tomorrow and see.”

The back end of the defense gained confidence with its physical play down the homestretch of the 25-22 win over the Giants last week. Cornerback Cre’von LeBlanc, active for three games earlier this season in Detroit before being claimed off waivers by the Eagles Nov. 5, has earned playing time while the Birds have dealt with a litany of injuries in the secondary.

“Wherever coach needs me to be I’ll be,” LeBlanc said. “When it’s time to lean on one another, that’s what we do. We come together as a team. Whatever we have to face or whatever we’re up against we just have to be up for the task.”

••• Elsewhere on the injury front, defensive end Michael Bennett is expected to play Monday although he hasn’t practiced this week due to a toe ailment.

“He’s done all our walk-throughs this week,” Pederson said. “He just hasn’t performed in practice. We’re just giving him some rest on that toe and he’ll be fine. He’ll be fine.”

Bennett leads the Eagles with 6.5 sacks, 5.5 of which have come in the past six games.

FILE PHOTO Eagles head coach Doug Pederson issued a bit of a warning to his players to be at their best behavior away from the field, too. This after video surfaced of Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt assaulting a woman, moving the Chiefs to immediately release Hunt, a top-shelf NFL running back.