Alonso prepares for tough matchup with Cowboys' Witten

Kiko Alonso joked with tight end Zach Ertz that he has some of the best hands on the Eagles. Ertz didn't believe Alonso. The Eagles have wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs who can catch the ball. A linebacker does not usually surpass them.

Then Alonso made a one-handed interception while falling backward to prevent a touchdown in the Eagles' loss on Monday, and Ertz needed to reconsider.

"He goes out and makes a play like that," Ertz said, "and it's hard to ignore."

Alonso is also hard to ignore. The Eagles linebacker missed much of the preseason with injuries. He played 51 snaps on Monday, accounting for 66 percent of the defensive plays. He recorded three tackles and had the important interception. He also was charged with a crucial penalty that nullified a turnover.

As the Eagles prepare for the game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, Alonso could take on a bigger role. His pass coverage skills could be needed against Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten, who has seven career touchdowns against the Eagles and could be the Cowboys' top pass catcher with Dez Bryant out of the lineup.

"Anybody matched up with Witten is going to be a handful just because of how talented he is, but one of the things about Kiko is he's a true three-down linebacker like Mychal [Kendricks]," coach Chip Kelly said. "And the fact that when we're in our nickel right now, we can leave two linebackers on the field because of how athletic those two guys are. [That] has really been a big help for us."

The Eagles used the dime formation more often last season when they had problems at inside linebacker. When Alonso and Kendricks are healthy, they're an ideal combination for the nickel. DeMeco Ryans is more of a fit in the base formation on running downs.

Alonso's pass coverage skills are rare for an inside linebacker. The interception he had came in zone defense, but he has the size, speed, and technique to handle man-to-man coverage.

"He's very smart as well as having the athletic ability to match," said Ertz, who grew up emulating Witten. "He kind of has the same measurables we do - he's long, he's tall, he's fast, he's strong. . . . It just comes down to using the technique to his advantage."

At 6-foot-3, Alonso has height that can be difficult to find at the position. He pointed out that he was a high school tight end and that his height is an advantage on defense.

But if Alonso plays a bigger role, it would need to come at the expense of someone else's playing time. The Eagles rotated Alonso and Ryans on Monday because both players are returning from injuries. Kendricks played every snap. Ryans expects a full rotation going forward.

"We're rolling all three of them in kind of a get-back-from-injury mode," defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. "How do we use all three in the right situation, depending on the personnel that comes with us and the tendency within that - what the formations look like with those groupings?"

Ryans makes defensive calls and sets up the defense. Kelly said Thursday that Alonso and Kendricks could do that without problem. Alonso said he's healthy and ready to take on a bigger workload if needed.

"Coming off of [not playing] during the preseason except a little bit in the Jets final preseason game, so [we're] still bringing him along," Kelly said. "But you saw what he can do and we'll see how those roles expand as we keep moving forward here."

Alonso's interception has been compared to Odell Beckham Jr.'s famed one-handed catch against the Cowboys last season. Alonso did not think his catch was in that category.

"I think his might have been a little better because he was fully extended, his was a deep ball, mine was a little lob," said Alonso, who had four interceptions in 2013. "It was in my area, I was able to make a play on it."

Alonso practices one-handed catches, although he admitted he does not practice them falling backward. He made a one-handed catch during warm-ups at practice on Thursday. Just like the one in the game, it was made with his left hand, which is his non-dominant hand.

"I actually think I catch better one-handed lefty," Alonso said.

It also gave Alonso more credibility with Ertz when he wants to put his hands up against the players in offensive meetings.

"I like to joke around with the offensive guys to tell them I have better hands than them," Alonso said. "It might not be true."

Wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu missed practice with a concussion and an elbow injury. Linebacker Marcus Smith (hamstring) was a full participant in practice for the second consecutive day. Kicker Cody Parkey and quarterback Sam Bradford are not on the injury report.

zberman@phillynews.com

@ZBerm