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The latest Philadelphia Eagles injury news on Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz is in and it’s not ideal.
Sanders is set to miss this week’s Thursday Night Football game against the New York Giants, according to NFL insider Chris Mortensen.
Ertz, meanwhile, is expected to be out for “3-to-4 weeks” due to an ankle issue. He’s a candidate to go on injured reserve with that time-frame.
The Eagles are already incredibly banged up on offense. These injuries obviously do not help matters.
Sanders’ absence could be especially devastating. He’s one of the Eagles’ best big play threats, as demonstrated by back-to-back weeks with 74-yard runs that turned into touchdowns. The Eagles’ depth behind him is very uninspiring with Boston Scott and Corey Clement as the main options.
Boston Scott has played 115 offensive snaps this year. He has 28 total touches for 115 yards (4.1 average).
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) October 19, 2020
Corey Clement has played 49 offensive snaps this year. He has 13 total touches for 32 yards (2.5 average).#Eagles
John Clark adds that Sanders might also possibly miss Week 8.
With Ertz out and Dallas Goedert still on injured reserve, the Eagles have one healthy tight end on the 53-man roster: Richard Rodgers. The team could look to sign Jason Croom, who caught a touchdown in his sole snap against the Ravens, the roster. The Eagles brought in Hakeem Butler to transition him from wide receiver to tight end and they also have Caleb Wilson on the practice squad.
The Giants are so bad that the Eagles might be able to beat New York despite these key injuries. But nothing is guaranteed for the Birds, who are also bad. The Eagles really need to win this week’s game to stay alive in the awful NFC East. Not to mention the two games after this week which feature the Dallas Cowboys and then the Giants again.
In other injury news, it sounds like Lane Johnson could miss this week’s game as well. And his primary backup, Jack Driscoll, might be unavailable after getting carted off on Sunday. The Eagles could be down to third string right tackle Brett Toth, who played his first NFL snaps on Sunday.
I’m told it would be better for Eagles to rest Lane Johnson’s ankle Thursday night and give it more time
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 19, 2020
We don’t know yet if Jack Driscoll is available Thursday night and Brett Toth became 13th projected lineman this year pic.twitter.com/51sL4C1Dcv
On the positive (?) injury front, the Eagles are expected to have DeSean Jackson back in the lineup. Or maybe not?
Caplan: “DeSean, here’s the real story, 2 people who know thought DeSean was playing. It’s really now up to DeSean. There is no reason he shouldn’t play Thursday. If he doesn’t play I’m throwing my hands up and not reporting on him anymore. It’s not a bad hamstring come on play!”
— Patrick (@EaglesPMC) October 19, 2020
MORE UPDATES: Even more injury news.
The @Eagles are also looking at possible two-week injury absences for DL Malik Jackson and T Jack Driscoll but guardedly hopeful on getting couple players back for game vs. @Giants on TNF. https://t.co/JpgXL0KYMC
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) October 19, 2020