Eagles Notes: Kiko Alonso makes two tackles in preseason debut
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Kiko Alonso made his Eagles debut Thursday in the preseason finale against the New York Jets, starting at inside linebacker and playing eight snaps. Alonso was the only projected defensive starter to play. He made two tackles.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Kiko Alonso made his Eagles debut Thursday in the preseason finale against the New York Jets, starting at inside linebacker and playing eight snaps. Alonso was the only projected defensive starter to play. He made two tackles.
Alonso, who missed all of last season with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, sat the first three games of the preseason with a concussion and knee tendinitis. He was expected to make his debut last week, but Alonso felt discomfort in the surgically repaired knee when he warmed up. He played his first game Thursday since December 2013.
One of the marquee acquisitions this offseason, Alonso came to Philadelphia from Buffalo in a trade for LeSean McCoy. The deal reunited Alonso with Chip Kelly, his coach at Oregon.
Alonso is part of the Eagles' three-man rotation of starting inside linebackers with DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks. All three are expected to have big roles in the defense, but they did not play together in a game during the preseason.
Parkey sits out
Kicker Cody Parkey was in uniform, but he did not play. The Eagles continued to use backup punter Kip Smith at kicker. Parkey is nursing a groin injury but said he would be ready for the regular season.
The Eagles did not dress most of their starters and key reserves. Sitting out were quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez; wide receivers Riley Cooper, Nelson Agholor, and Jordan Matthews; running backs Ryan Mathews, DeMarco Murray, and Darren Sproles; defensive backs Nolan Carroll, Walter Thurmond, Malcolm Jenkins, and Byron Maxwell; linebackers Brandon Graham, DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendricks, Connor Barwin, and Marcus Smith; offensive linemen Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Andrew Gardner, Jason Peters, and Allen Barbre; defensive linemen Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Fletcher Cox, and Bennie Logan; and tight ends Zach Ertz and Brent Celek.
Brady and the 'Boys
Tom Brady's court victory over the NFL that vacated his four-game suspension could have reverberations in the NFC East, because Brady is now scheduled to be on the field when the New England Patriots play the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 11.
Brady's four-game suspension was overturned by U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman, who ruled that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell went too far in levying the punishment. The Patriots-Cowboys game would have been the fourth game during Brady's suspension.
The Patriots play the four NFC East teams this season, but the Cowboys were the only division team in the four-game window for the suspension. The Eagles visit New England on Dec. 6. The Patriots play the Washington Redskins on Nov. 8 and the New York Giants on Nov. 15.
- Zach Berman