Brown’s release may end up biting Birds
PHILADELPHIA >> The linebackers didn’t give up 333 passing yards and four touchdowns in the Eagles’ 38-20 loss to the Vikings.
Yet the scapegoat for the spectacle was Zach Brown, who was released late Monday after giving the Eagles five stops, one for a loss.
The run defense wasn’t bad. The Eagles became just the second team this season to hold Dalvin Cook under 100 yards. Cook rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
So, it must have been the way Brown ran his mouth leading up to the game, the veteran verbalizing what everybody with an ounce of football knowledge knows to be true - quarterback Kirk Cousins is the weak link on the Vikings.
For Brown, nonetheless, it was 58 snaps one day, gone the next.
“I’ll just leave that to those guys,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, intimating the personnel people upstairs at the NovaCare Complex. “They can address those roster decisions.”
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins was at least slightly taken aback when asked if he was surprised by the decision. It was obvious from the length of the “uhhhhhhmmm” preceding his answer.
“Not necessarily,” Jenkins said. “I mean there are things that happen from personnel every day that we have no control over that we see on the notifications on our phones just like everybody else. At the end of the day we don’t focus on things that we don’t control.”
For the record, Jenkins replied “not to my knowledge” when asked if the linebacker position had been a problem.
So, there you have it. One group text message and Brown was out the door. Cousins claimed to know nothing about what his former Redskins teammate said about him until moments before stepping up to the podium post-game Sunday. Cousins said it didn’t impact his play.
What Brown said is common knowledge around the NFL. For a variety of reasons, including turnovers, Cousins is just 5-27 against teams with winning records, the Eagles being the latest victim. Cousins had just one giveaway in 71 snaps, a tipped pass intercepted by safety Andrew Sendejo.
Truth be told, getting rid of Brown, who has an intimate knowledge of the Cowboys and running back Zeke Elliott, dating to the tour with the Redskins, may end up being a hasty decision.
Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham was in a walking boot after injuring an ankle at Minnesota, Kamu Grugier-Hill is coming off a sprained MCL and except for Nate Gerry, the team’s best healthy linebacker now, there isn’t much experience.
“I will say we need more production from our linebacker position in general and Kamu is coming off his preseason, so to speak, so we’re excited about getting him back in a role that he had done a good job in through the spring and summer until he had gotten injured,” Schwartz said. “So, that will be good to get him.”
Interestingly, Grugier-Hill made some unflattering remarks last year before the Eagles opposed the Cowboys in Texas.
“They always choke,” GrugierHill said. “So, we’ll go down there and make them choke.”
The Cowboys prevailed 29-23 in overtime last season. GrugierHill apparently saved his job by playing his heart out. JACKSON UPDATE >> Wide receiver DeSean Jackson (abdomen) showed no sign of injury walking through reporters to get to his vehicle Tuesday.
The Eagles hope to see what he can do in a football setting this week.
Asked how he felt, Jackson replied “Good, good.”
The veteran deep threat has been sidelined the last four games, having played in just a handful of snaps in Week Two after lighting it up in the opener.
“We have plays in our offense that will be ready for him should he be available,” offensive coordinator Mike Groh said. “If he’s not, then we’ll go to battle with the guys that are ready to go.”
Jalen Mills (foot) began practicing, and there is optimism he and fellow cornerback Ronald Darby (hamstring) could bolster the secondary in some form against the Cowboys. COWBOYS UPDATE >> The Cowboys have their share of injuries, as well.
Receiver Randall Cobb (back) and offensive tackles La’el Collins (MCL) and Tyron Smith (ankle) were scratched before a 2422 loss Sunday to the previously winless Jets.
Additionally, star receiver Amari Cooper exited the game after re-injuring a quadriceps muscle. He’s already been nursing an ankle injury.