Eagles in worse shape with injuries, but Seahawks still expecting tough wild-card meeting
.JPG "Philadelphia Eagles’ Miles Sanders in action during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)")
K.J. Wright couldn’t imagine what it would be like to try to play a football game with a broken rib.
“Nope,” the Seattle Seahawks linebacker said ahead of Thursday afternoon’s practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. “That sounds tough. That sounds super tough, man. … That does not sound fun.”
But, as painful as that idea sounds, Wright and the Seahawks still might see Eagles tight end Zach Ertz and a few more of Philadelphia’s banged-up playmakers when they travel east for Sunday’s wild-card matchup.
Ertz has been tending to a fractured rib and lacerated kidney since Philadelphia’s Week 16 win over the Cowboys, but returned to practice this week in a limited capacity. He went through position drills Thursday, but has not yet been cleared for contact.
Like many others on Philadelphia’s roster, he’s a wait-and-see for Sunday’s game, but the Seahawks are preparing as if the Eagles — who had six starters either sitting out or limited for Thursday’s practice — were healthy.
“It doesn’t change too much,” Wright said of Seattle’s preparation. “I hope the best guys are out there, but we go and prepare just like we always have. It’s going to be a tough battle no matter who’s out there.”
Both Philadelphia’s leading rusher in Miles Sanders (818 yards, three TDs in 10 games) and leading receiver in Ertz (916 yards, six TDs in 15 games) are questionable. Sanders missed his second consecutive practice Thursday with an ankle sprain, but reportedly expects to play.
Wide receiver Nelson Agholor (knee) has also missed the past two days, and DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery are both on injured reserve.
Starting right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) remains questionable after limited participation this week, and right guard Brandon Brooks (shoulder) was placed on IR on Wednesday.
And that’s just the offense.
A handful of Philadelphia’s defensive players are on IR, and defensive linemen Fletcher Cox (triceps) and Derek Barnett (ankle) are questionable for this week.
Yet, as exhaustive as their injury list is, the Eagles have still won four straight — twice against the Giants, and once each over the Redskins and Cowboys. What’s changed after opening the season 5-7?
“A lot,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson told reporters Wednesday. “Obviously our roster, due to the amount of injuries, is probably the biggest thing that’s changed, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
“Secondly, I think the guys just understood everything was a must win. Everything was a situation that we were fighting and scratching because if we were going to make the postseason, or at least win the NFC East, everything had to be a must win. I think the guys really embraced that.”
None of those NFC East opponents in the final four games of the regular season made the playoffs, or finished the season with a winning record, but as depleted as the Eagles have been, those wins say something.
“No matter what the health situation is, they’ve won four straight coming into this game,” Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “And they have home-field advantage. We beat them the last time we were out there, so there’s probably a lot of people writing them off because they don’t have their personnel or whatever.
“That is enough to motivate a team and get them to come together and try to win the game. It’s not just a game we can come in here and think that we have it, just because of an injury situation. … They’re going to come and be ready to go.”
Though in better shape than Philadelphia with injuries, the Seahawks still have their own health concerns.
Safety Quandre Diggs (ankle) returned as a full participant in practice Thursday, but defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (core) didn’t practice for the second consecutive day, and linebacker Mychal Kendricks was ruled out for the season Tuesday with an ACL tear.
The offense has more question marks, with four players — starting left tackle Duane Brown is still recovering from minor knee surgery, and wide receivers Jaron Brown (knee) and Malik Turner (concussion) and guard Mike Iupati (neck) were also absent — missing Thursday’s practice. Center Joey Hunt (fibula) was limited.
Seattle may need a similar defensive effort to its 17-9 win over the Eagles in Week 12 to boost its ailing offense. The Seahawks forced five turnovers and ultimately held on in the second half.
“We’ve just got to make sure we try to repeat that success,” Wright said. “They’ve still got some guys missing, but the guys that are stepping up are looking really good. … They’re a good football team. They fought hard these last few weeks, so we’re going to try to get a win.”
This story was originally published January 2, 2020 at 5:13 PM.
