Howard back, Ertz out for Giants game
PHILADELPHIA >> With each late touchdown drive, through fourth-quarter rallies and overtime successes, through most of December, Jordan Howard watched the Eagles with splintered emotion.
Pleased with the team’s success, aware that it could lead to the postseason, proud of the way Miles Sanders had developed as an every-down threat, Howard knew one thing: He is paid to play football. And he wasn’t playing football.
“This was the first time I ever missed games in my NFL career,” Howard was saying Friday after practice. “So it has definitely been tough.”
Howard played nine games for the Eagles, starting six, providing much of what was expected after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Bears. He was rugged and dependable, and most of all, he was willing. Then he felt something in his arm, a stinger, in a Nov. 3 victory over Chicago. He has not played since.
That will change Sunday, when Howard will be available to play in a Week 17 game against the Giants at the Meadowlands. “He’s good to go,” Doug Pederson said.
That doesn’t mean Pederson will disrupt his recent running back rotation of Sanders and Boston Scott, though Howard is expected to use his strength in change-of-pace situations.
“Jordan gives us obviously a third back, situational guy,” Pederson said. “We understand who he is.”
He is a fourth-year pro, one with two fourfigure rushing seasons and 3,895 career yards. He’s also had a game of postseason experience, making him decidedly more seasoned than either Scott or Sanders.
Howard having been cleared late Thursday for all football activities, that means the Eagles have been blessed with a bonus weapon for a one-game opportunity to win their way into the postseason.
“As far as the conditioning and the game shape and being ready, you just can’t give him a full complement of plays,” Pederson said. “We don’t want to necessarily disrupt what we have going. But he is a big piece obviously to our offense.”
Despite Howard’s month-plus of basic inactivity, the Eagles have been impressed with the way he has maintained his strength.
“I mean, it’s good,” Pederson allowed. “I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily where he wants it to be probably, but it’s good. It’s good for playing. Again, we’re going to be smart about it. But we’re full steam ahead with Miles and Boston.”
Considering the alternative, which was to continue to build frustration, the 25-year-old Howard will welcome any opportunity.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s been a while since I have been out on the field. It will take some time to get back used to it.
“On game days, I have been out there on the sideline. And I wanted to be out there so bad, even knowing that I couldn’t. So I just tried to support my team any way I could.”
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As expected, Zach Ertz will not play Sunday.
Battling injuries to his rib and back, Ertz officially was ruled “out” for the game on the Eagles’ injury report. Also ruled out was Nelson Agholor (ankle),
“You saw the hit last week, and we want to be as transparent as we can with the reports,” Pederson said. “He is dealing with not only the rib, but the back as well.”
Ertz did not practice Friday. “Obviously I want to make sure he’s 100 percent medically,” Pederson said. “Zach is a tough guy. I know he wants to be out there. But at the same time, I’m not going to risk anything further for him personally.”