Eagles secondary continues to take serious losses: ‘When it rains it pours on that position’
General manager Howie Roseman and his staff spent Monday scouring the rest of the league for external assistance at secondary, according to league sources.
Injured Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks is checked on during the loss to the Jets at MetLife Stadium.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
There’s been a revolving door within the Eagles secondary, a unit that continues to be plagued by injuries.
During the team’s upset loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, it was safety Reed Blankenship (ribs), recently added cornerback Bradley Roby (shoulder), and rookie Eli Ricks (knee) who joined the wounded defensive back room.
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Through the first six weeks of the season, defensive coordinator Sean Desai has not been afforded any continuity. Every Week 1 starting defensive back has missed at least one game because of injury and two starters — nickel cornerback Avonte Maddox (torn pectoral muscle) and safety Justin Evans (knee) — remain shelved on injured reserve. Top reserve Zech McPhearson (torn Achilles tendon) also is on IR.
General manager Howie Roseman and his staff spent Monday scouring the rest of the league for external assistance in the secondary, according to league sources.
Coach Nick Sirianni alluded to as much when he said Roseman is “always working” to improve the team’s personnel.
“We’ve been banged up. … When it rains it pours on that position,” Sirianni said. “The injuries have gotten us there.”
Following the team’s 5-1 start to the season, the Eagles are about to face immense challenges over the next two months.
There’s hope around the organization that veteran cornerback Darius Slay (knee) could rejoin the fold as the defense prepares for a mighty challenge with the Miami Dolphins scheduled to visit Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night. Additionally, rookie defensive back Sydney Brown (hamstring) could be on the mend following his two-game absence.
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The Dolphins boast the league’s most potent attack, ranking first in total offense (498.7 yards per game), passing (316.8), and rushing (181.8).
The road doesn’t get any easier after this weekend, either. The Eagles won’t play an opponent with a losing record until Week 16, when they host the Giants (1-5) on Christmas Day. Their next eight games are against the Dolphins, Commanders, Cowboys (twice), Chiefs, Bills, 49ers, and Seahawks — a group of opponents that own a 30-14 combined record.
By the end of Sunday’s game, practice squad defensive back Mekhi Garner made his NFL debut as he replaced Blankenship at safety. Sirianni declined to delve into whether Blankenship’s rib injury is considered a long-term ailment, but that Garner was the team’s contingency plan should ring the bells for the front office.
“Obviously, we miss players like that, and we want to get them back as soon as we can,” Sirianni said. “So we’ll see. … I’m just going to always keep [injury timelines] close to the vest.”
Following midseason injuries last year to defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Marlon Tuipulotu, Roseman bolstered the position by adding a pair of veterans in Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph. With the Eagles harboring Super Bowl aspirations and dealing with a litany of injuries, time will tell if Roseman repeats that script and adds to the roster via free agency or the trade market.
With 15 days remaining until the NFL’s trade deadline on Oct. 31, it’s evident there are lingering needs across the secondary.
Said Sirianni: “Hopefully we’re getting a couple guys back and [we] feel good about it.”
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left) and Eagles Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (right) talk before the Eagles play the Jets. Both players are inactive due to injuries.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson pauses to signs autographs before the Eagles play the JetsRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith signs autographsRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown warms-upRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs for 9 yards during the first quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, right, gets tackled by New York Jets cornerback Michael Carter II, left, after a reception during the first quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New York Jets safety Tony Adams pushes Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott out of bounds during the first quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, right, talks to offensive tackle Lane Johnson, center, as he limps off after a possible injury during the first quarter Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson limps down the sideline during the first quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs for a touchdown on 4th down during the first quarterRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship, left, breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin, right, during the second quarterRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert loses the ball and the Philadelphia Eagles lose possession during the second quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift scores a touchdown during the second quarterRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift celebrates with center Jason Kelce, right, after scoring during the second quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson gets sacked by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick and defensive tackle Jordan Davis during the second quarterRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce tries to recover the fumble by running back D'Andre Swift during the second quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni paces the sidelines during the second quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick sacks New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson during the third quarterRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham celebrates with linebacker Haason Reddick after his sack during the third quarterRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham brings down New York Jets running back Breece Hall during the third quarterRead moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gets sacked on third down during the fourth quarter Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
New York Jets cornerback Bryce Hall picks off Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during the fourth quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts slides for a first down during the fourth quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New York Jets cornerback Bryce Hall intercepts Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ pass during the fourth quarter Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown makes a catch as New York Jets cornerback Tae Hayes follows closely during the fourth quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles place kicker Jake Elliott reacts after missing a field goal during the fourth quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New York Jets safety Tony Adams intercepts a Jalen Hurts pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert in the fourth quarter.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts sits on the bench after throwing an interception during the fourth quarterRead moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
New York Jets cornerback Bryce Hall celebrates after an incomplete pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith that ended the game.Read moreHeather Khalifa / Staff Photographer