Eagles’ Avonte Maddox diagnosed with concussion and neck injury, will undergo further testing

Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox was diagnosed with a concussion and a neck injury, but he was able to travel back to Philadelphia with the team after Thursday night’s game at Green Bay.

The Eagles issued that news in a statement moments before coach Doug Pederson took the podium for his press conference Friday afternoon. Maddox had been taken off the field on a stretcher late in Thursday night’s 34-27 win over the Packers.

Maddox left the game with a little more than a minute left after a head-to-head collision with teammate Andrew Sendejo while trying to break up a pass in the red zone. He appeared to go limp on the ground for a moment before the Eagles’ training staff got to him, but he had subtle movements in his legs as they got the stretcher.

“Avonte Maddox was evaluated at the hospital last night and diagnosed with a concussion and a neck injury,” the release read. "Doctors determined he was safe to travel with the team to undergo further testing.”

Pederson added that Maddox was “in great spirits” on the flight home, and nobody was surprised that he was able to fly home with the team.

The entire Eagles team came over from the sideline to show support for Maddox as he was carted off. After the game, Malcolm Jenkins told reporters that he was joking with Maddox while he was being put on the stretcher. The Eagles said he had feeling and movement in his extremities but was taken to the hospital for further testing as a precaution.

Maddox tweeted Friday morning that “everything is going well."

Maddox was replaced by recent pickup Craig James, who two plays later broke up the pass on Nigel Bradham’s game-saving interception.

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A fourth-round draft pick out of Pittsburgh in 2018, Maddox had a strong rookie season, especially during the Eagles’ playoff push and in the postseason. He had a strong offseason and has become an important player in the team’s defensive backfield. He was playing cornerback in relief of Sidney Jones, who went down with a hamstring injury. The good news is that the Eagles will have an extended rest on the other side of its short week. The Eagles’ next game isn’t until Oct. 6, when they take on the New York Jets at home.

Pederson did not have an update on Jones’ status, but said the long week might help the team get several players, such as Jones and receiver DeSean Jackson, back healthy.

“It’s challenging. Just like it was with the receivers, now it’s affecting the defensive backs,” Pederson said. “Fortunately, we have some days here to get guys healthy, and we’ll be able to have probably a better update in the middle of next week.”

Jackson has missed the last two games with an abdominal injury. It’s unclear when he’ll return, but Pederson said he hopes to have more information next week. Jackson left the Eagles’ Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter after his stellar Week 1 performance against Washington.

“We have to get him evaluated some more,” Pederson said. “We have to continue to get him his treatment and everything. So until I get more information and see where he’s at, even next week, I really can’t comment right now. ... This is the time, these next three to five days, to really get our guys healthy and see where we are next week.”

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