Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Chip Kelly: Ryan Mathews' workload affected by injured groin

Chip Kelly said Monday the reason Ryan Mathews was barely used in the fourth quarter of the Eagles' 27-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers was an injury.

Chip Kelly said Monday that Ryan Mathews suffered a groin injury in the Eagles' 27-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers, which affected the running back's playing time. Mathews had six carries for 97 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown rush during which he apparently ran with the injury.

That was Kelly's explanation for running backs coach Duce Staley limiting Mathews' workload.

"Ryan was hurt yesterday," Kelly said. "When I talked to Duce about it, and we talk about it all the time, Ryan hurt his groin on a 22-yard run before he broke the long run and really couldn't go. Duce was monitoring him on the sideline, what he could do and what he couldn't do. So I think Duce does a great job with those guys."

Mathews ran for 22 yards in the second quarter. His next rush did come until the third quarter, when Mathews ran for the touchdown. Kelly said Mathews "didn't think he was going to make it in the end zone." Mathews had one rush and one reception after the touchdown.

"I talked to Duce on the headset all the time, and he said, 'I got him,' so I'm good with that, " Kelly said.

Mathews has 56 carries for 342 yards and three touchdowns this season. That's 6.1 yards per carry. DeMarco Murray has 88 carries for 307 yards. That's 3.5 yards per carry. Murray missed one game and Mathews has played all the games, although he was also injured before the Eagles' Week 6 win over the Giants.

"He's been hurt the last two weeks," Kelly said. "He was questionable going into the Giants game and he was hurt last night."

Asked if Mathews would take on a bigger role when healthy, Kelly evaded the question. "I just deal with the present case," he said. "We'll see if he'll be available for the Cowboys game."

Sam's still the man

The Eagles are 3-4 and quarterback Sam Bradford has nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But Kelly's position on the starting quarterback job has not changed. There will be no switch to Mark Sanchez.

"I think our quarterback is playing well," Kelly said. "I have been pleased with Sam, very pleased with Sam."

Eagles upbeat about Peters' recovery

Left tackle Jason Peters had back spasms in Sunday's game and the Eagles are optimistic that he can return to practice after the bye week. The training staff will monitor Peters this week, and Kelly said from what he understands, the tackle "should be good to go for next Tuesday." . . . Kelly is giving the players off until Nov. 2. It's the same bye week schedule as last season. The Eagles practiced during the bye week in 2013. . . . Kelly said wide receiver Jordan Matthews does not have a hand injury. The Daily News reported that Matthews had a hand ligament injury a couple of weeks ago that has since been resolved, although he has not been on the injury report.