Eagles guard Brandon Brooks in hospital

After a week of speculation, Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor was inactive for the game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday. But the bigger surprise was the absence of starting right guard Brandon Brooks because of an illness.

Brooks, who has started every game this season, was hospitalized Monday with an illness. There was no word on the severity of the illness. Brooks signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Eagles during the offseason.

With Brooks inactive, rookie Isaac Seumalo started for the first time this season. The offensive line was shuffled this week because Halapoulivaati Vaitai was out with a knee injury. Allen Barbre moved from left guard to right tackle to replace Vaitai, and Stefen Wisniewski started at left guard.

Josh Andrews was active for the first time this season as a backup guard.

Agholor sat the first time this season after his ongoing struggles came to a head last week against Seattle. The Eagles wanted to give him time to get his mind right, and had been hinting all week that Agholor would either be inactive or have a reduced role.

The Eagles played rookie Paul Turner for the first time this season after promoting him from the practice squad last Monday. The other wide receivers were Jordan Matthews, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Bryce Treggs. The Eagles opened the game with three tight ends and Matthews as the only wide receiver.

In addition to Agholor, Brooks, and Vaitai, the other inactive players were running back Ryan Mathews, defensive end Steven Means, offensive lineman Dillon Gordon, and defensive tackle Taylor Hart.

Mathews was declared out with a knee injury. Wendell Smallwood started at running back with Mathews absent and took on a bigger role.

Matthews exited the game in the second quarter with a right ankle injury, but he returned to the game in the second half. He needed X-rays on the ankle before his return. However, he went back to the locker rook in the third quarter.