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Doug Pederson says Eagles starters will play against Dallas, at least for a while

"I want all the starters to play," Doug Pederson says of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cowboys.

Eagles guard Stefen Wisniewski (left), walking off the field with Halapoulivaati Vaitai after an October game, will play Sunday.
Eagles guard Stefen Wisniewski (left), walking off the field with Halapoulivaati Vaitai after an October game, will play Sunday.Read moreCLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer

Doug Pederson said Friday that he will play his starters Sunday, at least a bit, in the meaningless season finale against Dallas, for two reasons: to sharpen them for the playoffs, and because he has only 53 players on the roster.

"I want all the starters to play," Pederson said, before the Eagles boarded buses to Lincoln Financial Field for Friday's practice. With temperatures well below freezing all week, the NovaCare fields were frozen hard; the Linc field is heated. Pederson said he wanted an outdoor practice, with Sunday's weather not looking any warmer.

Pederson said starters nursing injuries — specifically Brandon Graham, who hasn't practiced this week because of an ankle problem — probably won't play against Dallas. But Pederson said left guard Stefen Wisniewski, who has missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, needs to get sharp for the postseason and will take the field Sunday. The coach also hinted that quarterback Nick Foles might get a quarter or so of tune-up work.

Pederson said the Eagles will "wait and see" how practice goes today before deciding whether rookie cornerback Sidney Jones will make his NFL debut Sunday, nine months removed from Achilles tendon surgery. It seems Jones' getting a taste of action might be a real possibility. The team has until Jan. 3 to decide whether to add him to the roster or place him on injured reserve, which would mean Jones couldn't practice next week or during the playoffs.