DeMeco Ryans Injury: Eagles linebacker suffers season-ending Achilles injury

The Eagles lost several players to injury during Sunday's win against the Texans, but this one may hurt the most. Inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans will miss the remainder of the season due to a ruptured Achilles:

Eagles LB DeMeco Ryans done for year with Achilles injury http://t.co/7dnjJ1mbyX

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 2, 2014

The injury happened midway through the fourth quarter as Ryans caught an interception and landed awkwardly. The rough landing caused the injury and Ryans dropped the ball in pain before being touched. The Texans recovered the fumble while Ryans was laid in pain on the Reliant Stadium turf. He was carted off of the field while the entire defense saluted him. The Texans would go on to score on the renewed drive.

Ryans was quietly having a very good season, as he was force against the run through the first eight games. The loss is a big blow, as Ryans is essentially the "quarterback of the defense" and makes all of the calls for the unit. With Ryans out, Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho will likely resume the rotation that the two formed when fellow inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks was injured. Kendricks returned in Week 8 and played a very good game against the Texans. He will likely take over play-calling responsibilities.

It has been speculated for quite some time that this may be Ryans' last season in Philadelphia. While the injury seems to be an indicator that he has played his last down as an Eagle, it may give the team enough leverage to force him to take a pay cut in the off-season. Either way, his three-year tenure with the Eagles has to be viewed as positive run.