Eagles Notes: Eagles tackle Todd Herremans leaves game with injury

NEW ORLEANS - Todd Herremans left Monday night's game against the Saints in the second quarter with an injury in the area of his right ankle. Herremans, the Eagles' most experienced offensive lineman, was helped off the field after a run by LeSean McCoy and quickly taken into the locker room.

He was said to have a tendon strain and will have an MRI exam Tuesday morning.

Without Herremans, the Eagles inserted Demetress Bell at right tackle. Herremans is the fourth starting lineman from last season to be sidelined this year. The Eagles are already playing without Jason Peters, Jason Kelce, and Danny Watkins.

Herremans has been inconsistent this season, but he has brought a veteran presence to the line, which continued its struggles with pass protection throughout the first half against the Saints.

Rookie Dennis Kelly, who had been the backup right tackle, started at right guard with Watkins out with an ankle injury.

Nate Allen also missed Monday's game, with an injured left hamstring. Allen, who was questionable going into the game, worked out on the Superdome turf before the game. He tried running, but his hamstring was not well enough for him to play.

Allen hurt his right hamstring on Oct. 14 against the Detroit Lions, played last week against the Atlanta Falcons, and hurt the left hamstring during Thursday's practice. With Allen out, David Sims made his first NFL start at free safety.

Defensive end Darryl Tapp stayed in Philadelphia to be with his wife, Tiffany, for the birth of their first child. However, Tapp was not replaced by second-round pick Vinny Curry. The Eagles continued to keep Curry inactive.

Defensive tackle Mike Patterson played his first game of the season Monday. Patterson was activated on Saturday from the nonfootball injury list after recovering from offseason brain surgery.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees extended his NFL record by throwing a touchdown pass in 51 consecutive games when he connected with Marques Colston in the second quarter. . . . DeSean Jackson lined up for a second-quarter punt return, but the punt went out of bounds. . . . Former Saints safety Steve Gleason was taken to a New Orleans hospital after becoming unresponsive at the Superdome. Gleason suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He underwent treatment in the emergency room at Ochsner Hospital, and his wife reported through the Saints that Gleason was alert and "doing well."