Learning from Hunt situation

PHILADELPHIA >> Doug Pederson said he constantly tells Eagles players that the minute they leave the training complex and rub elbows with the general public “Everybody’s a reporter.”

The revelation came Saturday when Pederson was asked if there’s a teaching point in the wake of the damaging video showing Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt allegedly assaulting a woman. Hunt was released by the organization.

“Everybody has, obviously, a cell phone and can take videos,” Pederson said at his news conference. “It’s an awareness, understanding your surrounding and where you’re at. And listen, your job is to help us win games, No. 1. And that needs to remain the focus, and then just protect yourself when you’re away from the building.”

Pederson said Eagles director of public relations Brett Strohsacker also communicates to players “about protecting themselves outside of this building.

“They just have to understand that they are high-profile guys,” Pederson said. “They are going to 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.”

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

Sproles hasn’t played since the opener due a strained hamstring but has practiced this week.

“I guess you can’t just say, ‘Hey, Darren, here is the game plan, let’s go, you’re back one hundred 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, being tackled again.”

Rookie Josh Adams has taken over the starting job at running back. Corey Clement has been the next man up.

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With cornerbacks Sidney Jones (hamstring) and Rasul Douglas (knee) healthy enough to play Monday, it will be interesting to see their roles.

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

The back end of the defense gained confidence with its physical play down the homestretch of the 2522 win over the Giants last week.

Cornerback Cre’von LeBlanc clearly has earned playing time.

“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.” ••• 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 walkthroughs 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.