Eagles vs. Giants Final Injury Report: Zach Ertz ruled out, Jalen Mills questionable

The Philadelphia Eagles issued their third and final official injury report on Friday in advance of their Week 17 game against the New York Giants.

The Eagles ruled two players OUT: starting tight end Zach Ertz and starting wide receiver Nelson Agholor.

Ertz is the Eagles’ leading receiver on a team that severely lacks pass catching talent so his absence is kind of a big deal. The pressure is on Dallas Goedert to follow up his career game against the Cowboys with another big effort at MetLife Stadium. The recently re-signed Richard Rodgers figures to be the second tight end in 12 personnel packages while Joshua Perkins could also continue to get limited playing time. Here’s more on Ertz:

Agholor hasn’t played since Week 13. He was previously ruled questionable on the last three final injury reports but now he’s just out. That would indicate his status has somehow worsened. Agholor’s absence means the Eagles will have four (not just three!) active wide receivers: Greg Ward, JJ Arcega-Whiteside (limited in practice for two days this week), Robert Davis, and Deontay Burnett. Burnett was promoted from the practice squad on Tuesday.

The Eagles ruled two players QUESTIONABLE: starting right tackle Lane Johnson and starting cornerback Jalen Mills.

Johnson being questionable is an upgrade after previously being ruled out of the Eagles’ previous two games. He didn’t practice at all this week so the guess is he’s not going to play. If Johnson is out, Halapoulivaati Vaitai will start his third consecutive game at right tackle. Big V has played well in relief duty. There seems to be optimism Johnson could play in the playoffs if the Eagles make it there.

Mills has been limited in practice all week due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 16. Mills was able to play the rest of the Cowboys game after returning so one would guess he’ll play in New Jersey. If the Green Goblin can’t play, Sidney Jones could start in his place.

Jordan Howard has FINALLY been cleared for contact after first suffering a shoulder injury back in Week 9. He’ll play against the Giants. Everything Pederson has had to say indicates Howard’s role will be limited. This exchange took place on Friday morning:

Q. How do you work Jordan Howard in? I know Miles Sanders has really done well and you don’t want to take opportunities away from him, so what’s the challenge this week?

DOUG PEDERSON: Challenge is we’ve been planning with Miles and Boston [Scott], and Jordan gives us obviously a third back, situational guy; we understand who he is. Again, we mentioned yesterday as far as the conditioning and the game shape and being ready, you just can’t give him a full complement of plays. We don’t want to necessarily disrupt what we have going, but he is a big piece obviously to our offense.

The guess here is we could see Howard in some short-yardage and red zone situations. It also obviously makes sense to use him if the Eagles have the luxury of running out the clock in the fourth quarter.

Howard, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Brooks, Derek Barnett, and JJAW were all full participants on Friday after being limited earlier in the week. They’re all set to play against the Giants.

With the Eagles placing Ronald Darby on injured reserve earlier this week, Rasul Douglas is in line to start at cornerback. It could be the combo of Douglas and Jones starting if Mills can’t play.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)

OUT

WR Nelson Agholor (knee)
TE Zach Ertz (ribs, back)

QUESTIONABLE

OT Lane Johnson (ankle)
CB Jalen Mills (ankle)

...

RESERVE/INJURED

RB Corey Clement
CB Ronald Darby
S Rudy Ford
WR DeSean Jackson
DT Malik Jackson
WR Alshon Jeffery
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
OT Jordan Mailata
DE Joe Ostman
DT Hassan Ridgeway
RB Darren Sproles

NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT (FRIDAY)

The Giants ruled three players OUT: starting right tackle Mike Remmers, starting tight end Rhett Ellison, and backup tight end Scott Simonson.

2018 undrafted rookie free agent Nick Gates is projected to start in place of Remmers. He’s made two career starts and was limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury. Brandon Graham needs to dominate this matchup.

Ellison and Simonson being out currently leaves the Giants with one tight end on their 53-man roster: 2019 sixth-round draft pick Kaden Smith. Smith has 23 receptions for 170 yards (7.4 average), three touchdowns, and one fumble this season.

The Giants ruled three players QUESTIONABLE: starting inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, starting outside cornerback Sam Beal, and starting nickel cornerback Corey Ballentine.

Beal and Ballentine have really struggled this season. It’d be hard for their backups to be worse ... but maybe they are? Or maybe Beal and/or Ballentine will just be playing at less than 100%. Either way, the Eagles should be testing this Giants secondary.

Starting cornerback DeAndre Baker isn’t listed with a game status but he was limited in practice the past two days. Again, the Eagles should be able to move the ball through the air on Sunday.

OUT

TE Rhett Ellison (concussion)
OT Mike Remmers (concussion)
TE Scott Simonson (concussion)

QUESTIONABLE

CB Sam Beal (shoulder)
CB Corey Ballentine (back)
LB Alec Ogletree (back)

...

RESERVE/SUSPENDED BY COMMISSIONER

TE Isaiah Searight

RESERVE/INJURED

OT George Asafo-Adjei
WR Corey Coleman
LB Ryan Connelly
LS Zak DeOssie
TE Evan Engram
WR Amba Etta-Tawo
LB Nate Harvey
LB Mark McLaurin
LB Chris Peace
S Jabrill Peppers
WR Russell Shepard