:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/25317843/20131013_lbm_su8_012.0.jpg)
The long awaited return of rookie safety Earl Wolff may be nigh. Wolff has been out with a knee injury since the Eagles' contest against the Packers in Week 10. Wolff returned to practice last week in a limited role but was ruled doubtful to play against Minnesota. This week, it seems like Wolff could be making his return to the lineup.
Earl Wolff says "I'm pretty sure I'm going to play on Sunday."
— Eagles Insider (@EaglesInsider) December 17, 2013
Wolff spoke with media after Tuesday's practice and said he "could play today if [he] had to." Barring a setback in practice this week, Wolff expects to play against the Chicago Bears this Sunday night.
Wolff's return is crucial to an Eagles secondary that's both injured and not playing very well. Wolff will likely start in place of veteran Patrick Chung should he return this week. The Eagles' struggling secondary faces a tough test against Chicago's big receiving threats Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey.
Elsewhere, CB Brandon Boykin, S Kurt Coleman, and S Colt Anderson were all seemingly held out Tuesday's light practice. Boykin is going through post-concussion protocol, per Eagles GM Howie Roseman. Anderson was described as "week to week" by defensive coordinator Bill Davis. Inside linebacker and special teams player Najee Goode was seen practicing which is an encouraging sign after missing last week's practices.
A report from Howard Eskin sheds more light on the Eagles injury situation:
Update on @eagles injuries. I'm told Brandon Boykin WILL play sunday after head inj. Unlikely Kurt Coleman and Colt Anderson will make it.
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) December 17, 2013
The observations from Tuesday's practice seem to make sense with Eskin's report. Perhaps Boykin has a chance of playing. If Boykin doesn't play, Bill Davis said a number of players could see time as the slot cornerback.
Multiple guys [would play in place of Boykin]. [Patrick] Chung, Roc [Carmichael] can get in there and work at it. Those are two guys that come to mind first.
If Coleman and Anderson can't play, the Eagles would only have three healthy safeties on the active roster: Allen, Wolff, and Chung. It's worth noting the Eagles have a safety on their practice squad: rookie Keelan Johnson.
[Note by Brandon Lee Gowton, 12/17/13 4:45 PM EST] Update: Eagles promote Keelan Johnson to their active roster. Emmanuel Acho cut.
More injury information will be released this week as the daily official injury updates from Eagles practice are released.
