Sproles sidelined for year
Eagles star suffered knee, arm injuries during same play.
When Darren Sproles walked briskly off the field holding his wrist after it appeared he injured a knee, the Philadelphia Eagles thought it was good news. Bad news came Monday. Sproles tore his ACL and broke his forearm on the same play in Sunday’s win over the Giants. He’ll miss the rest of the season.
“It’s a devastating loss,” coach Doug Pederson said.
The versatile Sproles has nine returns for touchdowns, including seven on punts. The 34-year-old veteran went to three Pro Bowls, including last season when he had a career-high 94 carries.
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (calf ) and starting linebacker Jordan Hicks (ankle) also were injured against New York. Pederson said both players are day to day. They joined a depleted secondary on the sideline. No. 1 cornerback Ronald Darby, starting safety Rodney McLeod, backup safety Corey Graham and versatile defensive back Jaylen Watkins didn’t play against New York.
Despite all the injuries on defense, the Eagles held the Giants scoreless through three quarters before Eli Manning tossed three touchdown passes in a span of 5:21 in the fourth quarter.
“People stepped up,” defensive end Brandon Graham said. “That just lets you know it’s the ‘next man up’ mentality and I’m glad people were prepared.”
Rookie cornerback Rasul Douglas, making his first career start, intercepted a pass in the second quarter. He was inactive Week 1 when everyone was healthy.
“The whole team believes in everybody, even guys who are not playing like the inactive players or players on the practice squad, we believe in them all,” Douglas said. “And whenever our number is called, we’re just ready to play and that’s how we practice, too. When I was inactive, I practiced like I was going to start, knowing that I wasn’t going to play. Everybody here has that same mindset.”
Late in the first half, a goalline stand sent the Eagles to the locker room ahead 7-0. Running back Orleans Darkwa was stuffed on fourth down from the 1. Second-year linebacker Joe Walker, a seventh-round pick who missed his rookie season with a knee injury, made the stop along with lineman Vinny Curry.
“It always goes back to practice,” cornerback Jalen Mills said. “Regardless of whatever happens, when we have the next guy up, the guy is going to be ready.”
Colts: Coach Chuck Pagano said there’s a chance Andrew Luck could return to practice Wednesday, but the quarterback already has been ruled out of Sunday’s game at Seattle. Luck had offseason surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
Rams: Defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks declined to discuss his arrest Friday night, when police said a gun was found in his vehicle after a traffic stop. “I can’t talk about it because it’s a legal issue,” Westbrooks said after practice.
49ers: Defensive lineman Tank Carradine (ankle) went on injured reserve, and San Francisco signed linebacker Mark Nzeocha from the Dallas practice squad.
Bears: The team said safety Quintin Demps suffered a broken arm in the victory over Pittsburgh and will be out indefinitely.
Panthers: Coach Ron Rivera expressed relief after an MRI revealed wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin has no structural damage to his left knee. Benjamin’s status will be day-to-day.
Cowboys: Following a weekend of kneeling and protesting across the NFL, the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones displayed their own version of unity Monday night, kneeling on the field before rising as a group before the playing of the national anthem in their game against the Cardinals. The Cowboys went into the locker room and returned to the field for the anthem, lining up between the sideline and the yard markers on the field. Arm-in-arm, they dropped to a knee as a giant flag was carried onto the field, with Jones and his family in the middle near the 50-yard line.
Numerous boos rang out across University of Phoenix Stadium as the Cowboys kneeled and continued as the players rose, still armin-arm, and stepped back to the sideline as the flag was unfurled across the field. They remained connected as Jordin Sparks sang the national anthem.