Tackle Dillard hurt; no fans for home games
Already short of experience up front, the Eagles lost offensive tackle Andre Dillard to a torn biceps, per reports.
Dillard was in severe pain after injuring his arm Thursday morning. He’d missed time with what the Eagles called an “upper body” injury. That’s obviously where the biceps is located.
Dillard likely needs surgery, which would make it a season-ender.
Thirty-eight-year-old Jason Peters, who had been switched to guard now likely protects the blind side of Eagles franchise quarterback Carson Wentz.
Dillard worked hard to gain weight and functional strength over the offseason after getting pushed around as a rookie.
“Andre’s added a bunch of weight and muscle and you can tell,” veteran center Jason Kelce said. “He’s a lot firmer in protections. Still has a way to go to be the player he can and should be.”
Dillard had his moments at training camp.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, they were just moments.
On Wednesday Dillard was thrown around like a rag doll both in the live team drills and the one-onones against the defensive linemen. The 325-pound Dillard was bull-rushed into Wentz by Joe Ostman, a clever edge rusher who goes about 250 on his best day. Wentz was fortunate he wasn’t hurt as he fell awkwardly after being tripped by Dillard.
Though Dillard wasn’t exactly a fixture at left tackle, he has four more starts than tackles Matt Pryor and Jordan Mailata combined.
The Eagles have their fingers crossed that All-Pro guard Brandon Brooks can recover from a torn Achilles’ tendon sometime this season.
Now the options at right guard are Pryor, who played decently in relief of Brooks in the wild card loss last year to Seattle, Sua Opeta, who’s had a solid camp and possibly fourth-round pick Jack Driscoll.
Beyond the starters, there is nobody on the squad remotely as good as Halapoulivaati Vaitai, the swing guard-tackle who signed with the Detroit Lions. Remember, with the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak lurking, along with injuries, this is the year teams need experienced depth.
Did we mention that right tackle Lane Johnson is nursing a lower body issue? •••
The Eagles made it official: No fans will be permitted for games at Lincoln Financial Field until further notice.
Philadelphia city officials said in July there would be no fans, although they backtracked slightly, the possibility of a dramatic change in transmission of the coronavirus or even a vaccine factoring in.
The Eagles stressed safety over attendance. Several season ticket holders have opted out of attending games this season.
The email to ticket holders said “Everyone associated with this process recognizes that this was a very difficult decision and while we are all disappointed in this outcome, the health and safety of our players, staff, fans and community remains our top priority,” the team said in a statement.”
The Eagles open the season Sept. 13 at FedEx Field against Washington, which won’t have fans in attendance.
The Birds’ home opener is the following Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles have to play in front of crowds when they hit the road to oppose the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.
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Ostman (lower body) and Genard Avery (knee) are day to day per the Eagles.
Mailata had a solid practice after missing a day with a lower body issue.
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Deontay Burnett had the catch of the day, the wide receiver running through a zone and out-battling a defender on a deep ball down the sideline. Burnett ripped off his helmet and strutted about while paid homage.
Rookie John Hightower made a solid catch in the back corner of the end zone on a throw from Wentz.
In the 7-on-7’s, DeSean Jackson ran under a Wentz throw of roughly 60 yards. Jackson made it look easy, using only his hands.
In the 11-on-11’s DJack couldn’t get away when matched against cornerback Darius Slay, who read him like a tweet.
But the catch of the day Thursday was rookie Jalen Reagor hanging on to a laser Wentz over the middle after a jarring hit.
That was a Pro Bowl grab for Reagor, who has all but won a job in the starting lineup with Jackson and Greg Ward.
Speaking of Ward, the standout quarterback at the University of Houston threw a short but accurate wide receiver option to JJ Arecega-Whiteside, who continued to impress. teammates