Eagles make another change on the offensive line
Journeyman guard Jamon Brown makes his debut with the Eagles when they take on the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Additionally, cornerback Darius Slay has been cleared to play from the concussion he sustained last weekend in Pittsburgh.
Doug Pederson said Matt Pryor, who started the last three games at right guard, will miss the Ravens contest due to illness.
Brown gives the Eagles their fifth different starting offensive line this season. The Eagles’ injured reserved list includes guards Isaac Seumalo and Brandon Brooks, and tackles Andre Dillard and Jason Peters.
The 6-4, 340-pound Brown started nine games last year for the Atlanta Falcons, and has 47 in six NFL seasons.
“I’m going to take the experi
ences I’ve had over the past five years and plug it into this system and go from there,” said Brown, who will find himself blocking the 6-8, 300-pound Calais Campbell, among other Ravens. “I’ve played a lot of football. It hasn’t been too big of an adjustment here. It’s just converting terminologies and techniques.”
Brown entered the league as a third-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2015 after a limited career with Louisville when Teddy Bridgewater played quarterback. The Eagles are his fifth NFL team.
“He’s played and started in this league,” Pederson said. “He’s been with us now for a couple of weeks. Whenever we get a new player it’s about catching them up to speed on our playbook and he’s done a really nice job. He’s a smart guy and he’s aggressive coming off the ball. He fits in really well. He had a good day yesterday and he’ll have another one today.”
Center Jason Kelce and guard Nate Herbig are the only players to start every game of the season on the offensive line for the Eagles
Right tackle Lane Johnson, per Pederson, is still working his way through injury although he hasn’t practiced all week.
Look for rookie Jack
Driscoll, who started the opener at right tackle, to step in as Johnson has injuries to his ankle and his shin, per a source.
“We have Jack ready to go if that’s the case,” Pederson said. “He’s played all the way back to Week 1. He’s got a lot of time on task. He’s all about business. That’s what you like in a young player.”
Brown has practiced next to Driscoll and Johnson. After joking that “swag” was the strength of his game, Brown settled for experience.
“I’ve helped a few organizations win some games and have some success,” Brown said. “I think I’m aggressive. I think I’m bringing that to the table, my personality, my aggression.
We’ll see how it works out on Sunday.”
Pederson wasn’t asked about safety Will Parks, who has practiced all week and is eligible to come off injured reserve for the Ravens. He would cover Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson’s other go-to guy.
Pederson didn’t seem overly enthused about putting receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery in the lineup.
Pederson said Jackson, inactive the past two games with a hamstring issue “had a really good day yesterday” and is “hopeful things go well today.”
Jeffery (foot) has been taking scout team snaps at practice.
“We want to make sure he’s feeling good before we put him out there,” Pederson said.
The Eagles play two games in five days, the latter start a Thursday night affair against the New York Giants at the Linc.
Brown was sent home and missed a practice this week due to illness. He COVID-19 tests but had basic symptoms mandating he not be around teammates.
Brown felt he could have practiced. And if he was a fan he’d attend a game, which a crowd of others will so Sunday at the Linc.
“With a mask, I definitely would,” Brown said.
The Eagles (1-3-1) are 6.5-point underdogs versus the Ravens (4-1), the only team in football that’s scored in every quarter this season.
The Ravens are 22-0 when leading at the half with Jackson at quarterback and have won a franchise-record eight straight road games, outscoring the opposition 269-123 in that span.
Brown doesn’t want to get ahead of himself and think he has the guard job locked up if he plays well against the Ravens.
“I can’t really control that,” Brown said. “All I’m trying to do is go out there and be good enough to help us win this football game. I’ve just got to be where my feet are. That’s making sure I’m able to block this front seven of the Ravens. They have a good football team. I’ll be ready.”