Eagles status updates on Carson Wentz, Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, others

Let’s take stock of the Philadelphia Eagles’ injury situation coming out of their Week 12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

CARSON WENTZ

Wentz suffered a hand injury that required him to get X-rays during Sunday’s game but he didn’t miss any playing time. Wentz downplayed the concern level in his postgame press conference

“[It’s] just my hand. Everything was negative, so I should be good. I don’t think it did [affect me]. It was something I was just making sure was good, but that’s by no means an excuse for how we performed whatsoever.”

Doug Pederson noted that the X-rays were negative but also said that Wentz would undergo more testing.

Wentz was seen walking out of the trainer’s room at Lincoln Financial Field with a significant wrapping on his hand. No reporters grabbed a picture in time but here’s a description:

NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark says the Eagles are hoping the injury isn’t very serious.

We’ll have to wait to hear more on his status.

If Wentz can’t play against the Miami Dolphins, the Eagles will start Josh McCown under center. Nate Sudfeld would be the backup quarterback.

UPDATE: Pederson said Wentz won’t miss any practice time and will be good for Sunday’s game in Miami.

“He has a little bruise in his hand, kind of in the middle finger there. [He’s] day-to-day, should be fine for the game.”

LANE JOHNSON

In some more encouraging news, Clark reports there’s hope that Johnson will return to the starting lineup in Week 13.

Johnson suffered a concussion against the New England Patriots. The Eagles’ starting right tackle didn’t pass through the NFL’s mandatory concussion protocol in time to play against the Seahawks.

The Eagles’ offensive line really struggled without Johnson, as is usually the case. The coaching staff benched Andre Dillard after the first half and put Halapoulivaati Vaitai in at Johnson’s normal spot.

Johnson returning will hardly fix all of the Eagles’ offensive issues but it will certainly help matters.

UPDATE: Johnson expects to be cleared on Tuesday. Great news.

BRANDON BROOKS

The Eagles’ starting right guard only played 12 snaps before having to leave the game due to what the team described as “illness.”

Brooks was originally replaced by Vaitai. But then Dillard’s benching saw Big V move to right tackle. Matt Pryor then came in to play at Brooks’ spot.

The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane reports Brooks was suffering from another bout of anxiety, which previously caused him to miss two games back in 2016.

Mental health issues aren’t to be taken lightly. Here’s hoping Brooks is feeling better soon.

UPDATE: Brooks put out a statement.

NELSON AGHOLOR and ALSHON JEFFERY

During his Friday press conference, Pederson had the following to say about two of the team’s starting wide receivers:

“They’re both trending - I guess that’s the word of the day - in the right direction. We know that in this sport and in this game, you have to play sometimes a little beat up and both these guys are tough guys and fully expect that.”

And yet, neither player was active for Sunday’s game.

Agholor’s absence wasn’t so surprising considering he didn’t participate in practice at all last week.

But Jeffery was at least limited in practice leading up to Week 12. And then there was an Adam Schefter report that emerged early on Sunday morning indicating Jeffery would be active. Schefter then changed his tone just one hour before the Eagles announced their inactives and Jeffery was ruled out.

So much for “tough guys” having to “play sometimes a little beat up.” The Eagles were instead left with four wide receivers — Jordan Matthews, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward, and Mack Hollins — who’d combined for 14 receptions, 174 yards, and zero touchdowns through Week 11.

Perhaps Agholor and/or Jeffery will be able to play against the Dolphins this week.