Eagles injury updates on Alshon Jeffery, Lane Johnson, Nelson Agholor, and others

The Philadelphia Eagles sustained a number of injuries (but what’s new?) in their overtime win over the New York Giants. Here’s the latest on what we know following Doug Pederson’s day-after press conference.

ALSHON JEFFERY

“Alshon is a little more significant. I am waiting on one more test result later this afternoon. It’s a little more significant with him. And then we have to do a course of action, a plan, with him, pretty soon, probably.

It sounds like Jeffery will be out for the remainder of the 2019 season after suffering a new foot injury on Monday night. Pederson said Jeffery’s injury isn’t related to his previous injuries earlier this season.

Sign up for NFL FanPulse and share your thoughts on the Eagles!

The Eagles can place Jeffery on injured reserve to open up a roster spot. Pederson mentioned both practice squad players (Marken Michel, Robert Davis, Marcus Green) and external free agents as possible options when it comes to adding to the wide receiver position.

The Eagles could re-sign Jordan Matthews if they wanted but the feeling here is that promoting a younger player is the preferable way to go. Just look at how the Eagles got some good contributions from former practice squad members such as Boston Scott, Greg Ward, and Joshua Perkins against the Giants.

LANE JOHNSON

“Lane Johnson is week-to-week.”

Johnson suffered a high ankle sprain that had him writhing in pain on Monday night. “Week-to-week” usually indicates a player will miss at least a couple games. It’s possible we might not see Johnson back until the playoffs, assuming the Eagles even make it there.

Pederson confirmed that Halapoulivaati Vaitai will start at right tackle while Johnson is out. The Eagles previously experimented with putting Andre Dillard on the right side but that was a disaster. Jason Peters previously said he’d be willing to play right tackle so Dillard can play left tackle but the team doesn’t seem to be seriously considering that configuration.

Keep in mind that Carson Wentz is 25-15 when Johnson starts and only 3-10 when he doesn’t.

NELSON AGHOLOR

“That one is still up in the air. We’ve just got to continue to work through his injury and where he’s at. We’ve got to continue to have conversation with him and see where he’s at prior to this week.

Agholor’s situation has been a little strange. (So unlike the Eagles, I know.) He suffered a knee injury on the play where he dropped a touchdown pass in the New England Patriots game. He then finished that game before then not playing against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. Agholor returned to action against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13 and played 89% of the offensive snaps before then not practicing at all leading up to Week 14. Pederson said the Eagles only kept three receivers on the active roster for the Giants game in part because they thought they might have Agholor.

If both Jeffery and Agholor are out, the Eagles are down to just JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward at receiver. The Eagles use third string tight end Joshua Perkins as a receiver as well. The team obviously needs to add some more pass catchers to the 53-man roster.

JALEN MILLS

“He should be okay. Day-to-day. The only thing you’ll see, probably, is a brace on his elbow. But other than that, he’s good.”

The Green Goblin had to leave the game with an elbow injury but it sounds like he won’t be missing time. Mills and Ronald Darby will continue as the team’s starting cornerbacks.

MILES SANDERS

Sanders experienced some cramping and had to visit the locker room before returning to finish Monday night’s game. Pederson said he’s okay.

JJ ARCEGA-WHITESIDE

JJAW wasn’t able to finish Monday’s game with what seemed to have been a hamstring issue (?). Pederson said he’s okay.

JORDAN HOWARD

No update on Howard. As of last week, he still hadn’t been cleared for contact due to his shoulder injury. We’ll see if that’s any different leading up to this week’s game.

DESEAN JACKSON

Jackson tweeted this over the weekend:

In accordance with injured reserve rules, the Eagles can’t possibly activate Jackson until the divisional round at the earliest. The Eagles would need to win their playoff game on wild card weekend in order for Jackson to have a chance to return. It’s not perfectly clear if he’d actually even be ready to play by then.

But if Jackson can return and actually be effective, well, that’d be a huge deal for this offense.

...

The Eagles were already banged up to begin with so it’s not great to see that they picked up new injuries as they try to make a playoff push for the NFC East crown. The replacements will need to step up just like they did in the Giants game.

In some Eagles Week 15 opponent injury news, Washington running back Derrius Guice is out on Sunday due to an MCL sprain. Guice was playing well before he got hurt again; the second-year rusher has 42 carries for 245 yards (5.8 average) and two rushing touchdowns in five games this year.