Practice Notes: Eagles, Jets, Cardinals
The Eagles got positive news on the injury front regarding three of their biggest weapons Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport. Wide receivers Alshon Jeffery (ankle) and Nelson Agholor (knee) are full participants in practice today and running back Jordan Howard (shoulder), while not yet back to practice, is “trending the right way.”
All three players missed Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, Jeffery and Howard have not played since November 3rd. Philadelphia’s offense has struggled mightily in recent weeks. Most of the blame has fallen on the shoulders of quarterback Carson Wentz, but it would surely help their signalcaller to have some more weapons.
Here’s some more notes on practice status around the league:
- Jets head coach Adam Gase told reporters he expects cornerback Darryl Roberts is expected to return after missing two games with a calf injury, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Right tackle Chuma Edoga will not practice today and left tackle Kelvin Beachum will be limited as well. The Jets are in the midst of a three-game win streak in hopes to rebound from what looked like a lost season.
- While Cardinals offensive tackle Jordan Mills was designated for return from the injured reserve earlier today, cornerback Robert Alford, though, will not be joining his teammate, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Alford, a six-year veteran, fractured his tibia prior to the season and was placed on injured reserve with the possibility to return. However, per Urban, that possibility is no longer an option.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/19
A handful of practice squad moves to pass along:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OT Cody Conway
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Jonathan Owens
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Doug Middleton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: FB Johnny Stanton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Chris Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kenneth Durden, DL Joey Ivie
Eagles Designate Cre’von LeBlanc For Return
The Eagles are getting another boost in their secondary. Philly is designating cornerback Cre’von LeBlanc to return from injured reserve, the team announced. 
LeBlanc can now begin practicing with the team, and the Eagles have three weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster. The Eagles’ secondary was in a dire situation earlier this year, with cornerbacks dropping like flies for a while. Corners Avonte Maddox, Ronald Darby, and Jalen Mills have all returned to the lineup in recent weeks, and Philadelphia’s pass-defense has unsurprisingly gotten a lot better.
LeBlanc originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2016, and he started nine games as a rookie with Chicago. After a short stint in Detroit he latched on with the Eagles for the second half of last season, and ended up starting four regular season games, as well as their playoff loss to the Saints.
The FAU product suffered a foot injury in training camp, but the Eagles thought highly enough of him to carry him through to the initial active roster so they could potentially bring him back. They also thought highly enough of him to give him a one-year extension at the beginning of the season. LeBlanc was the first player Philly designated for return, meaning they can still bring back one more.
Eagles Waive WR Jordan Matthews
Jordan Matthews‘ third stint with the Eagles is over. Philadelphia made the decision to waive its on-again, off-again wide receiver on Monday.
An Eagle from 2014-16, Matthews caught on with his original NFL team in 2018 and again this season. This reunion did not produce much statistically. The sixth-year veteran caught four passes for 33 yards, serving as insurance for an injury-battered Philly wideout corps.
DeSean Jackson has missed most of this season, and Alshon Jeffery missed another game on Sunday. The Eagles lost to the Seahawks, dropping to 5-6. They did so with a wideout skeleton crew. This latest Matthews departure could point to Jeffery being ready for Week 13.
The 27-year-old wideout has not recaptured the form he showed during his first Philadelphia stay, when he surpassed 800 yards in three straight seasons. He also failed to make an impact in Buffalo, following a 2017 trade, or San Francisco. Given Matthews’ history with the Eagles, it cannot be assumed he’s done with the franchise. But Philly’s Week 13 crew against Miami is not set to include him.
Lane Johnson Expects Week 13 Return
- As an Eagles season with Super Bowl aspirations veers closer to one of the more disappointing campaigns in recent NFL history, Philadelphia at least will likely have its Pro Bowl right tackle back this week. Lane Johnson expects to be cleared from concussion protocol on Tuesday, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. Johnson missed Sunday’s loss against the Seahawks.
Eagles G Brandon Brooks Left Game With Anxiety
Eagles right guard Brandon Brooks left in the first quarter of the team’s 17-9 loss to the Seahawks and did not return. The team listed Brooks as out with an illness and sources tell Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer that anxiety was the culprit.
Brooks has talked openly about his struggles with mental illness throughout his career. This would not be the first time Brooks’ fight has caused him to miss time on the field. In 2016, Brooks missed a pair of games when he suffered panic attacks during the team’s pregame warmups. The severe anxiety seemed to cause Brooks more problems earlier in his career during his tenure with the Texans, but as most people with mental illness will tell you, cures are few and far between.
The Eagles were already dealing with the absence of right tackle Lane Johnson and were left with backups on the entire right side of their offensive line. Veteran backup Halapoulivaati Vaitai first stepped in for Brooks, but the Eagles decided to slide Vaitai over to right tackle due to the struggles of Andre Dillard. In Vaitai’s place, Matt Pryor received the first substantial action of his two-year career.
Brooks signed as a free agent with Philadelphia after the 2015 season to a 5-year, $62.5MM contract. Since joining Philly, Brooks has become one of the better interior lineman in football, reaching the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons. Going forward, the Eagles will hope to get one of the biggest pieces of their offense back.
QB Notes: Wentz, Rudolph, Darnold, Carr
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz struggled once again in Philadelphia’s 17-9 loss to the Seahawks. Wentz received a x-ray on his right hand during the second half of the game, but would not blame his poor play on the injury, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. In his postgame press conference, when asked if the injury affected his play, he said, “I don’t think it did.” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson clarified that the x-rays were negative, but Wentz would go through further tests.
Whether the injury played a role or not, Philadelphia needs to find an answer for their offensive woes. Wentz made a number of poor decisions, but two passes to open receivers in the flat that sailed well out of reach were especially emblematic of his problems. The Eagles are now 5-6 on the season, but have a vital stretch of their schedule against Miami, New York, and Washington. It will be crucial for their playoff chances to come out victorious against three of the weakest teams in the league.
Check out some other notes on quarterbacks around the league:
- After being benched in the Steelers 16-10 win over the Bengals, quarterback Mason Rudolph addressed allegations from Browns defensive end Myles Garrett that Rudolph used a racial slur last week on Thursday Night Football. Rudolph adamantly denied the claims with reporters after the game, writes Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I couldn’t believe it and I couldn’t believe that he would go that route after the fact. But it is what it is and I think I’ve moved on. One day it was tough, but moved on. We’re good to go now.” Rudolph reiterated the claims were “totally untrue” and when asked if he said anything that could have been construed in a racist way he said, ““Absolutely not.’’
- Young quarterback Sam Darnold was criticized a few weeks ago for talking about the playoffs with half the season remaining, but the young Jets gunslinger is showing progress dealing with the media, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Darnold mentioned that the playoffs were in the back of his mind after 34-3 blowout win against the Raiders, but quickly made clear that he is taking the season one game at a time. This season has definitely been a roller coaster for Darnold who is still looking to string a few strong games together after missing the start of the season dealing with mononucleosis.
- Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was benched amidst a blowout loss to the Jets by head coach Jon Gruden. The move is not meant to create any controversy at the position, however. Carr was removed alongside other important players in Oakland’s rotation to protect them from injury down 31 in the third quarter. Still, Gruden acknowledged the difficulty decision talking with reporters after the game, according to Jerry McDonald of The Mercury News. “I didn’t want to take him out, but doing what I think is right and I’m sure I’ll be second-guessed for that but I think I’m doing what’s right for our football team.”
Eagles Place S Rudy Ford On IR
Despite going into the season with a promising wide receiver depth chart, the Eagles have endured a forgettable season at this position. And they may be even thinner at the spot this week.
With both Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor questionable to face the Seahawks, the Eagles promoted wideout Greg Ward from their practice squad. To clear a roster spot, Philadelphia placed safety Rudy Ford on IR.
Ford is dealing with an abdominal injury but had played in each of the Eagles’ 10 games this season. The third-year defender came to Philadelphia earlier this year in a trade with Arizona. He played in 23 Cardinals games between the 2017 and ’18 seasons.
A former college quarterback who threw for more than 8,000 yards in four seasons at the University of Houston, Ward has bounced on and off the Eagles’ roster since being a 2017 UDFA. He made his NFL debut in the Eagles’ Week 3 game against the Lions and contributed mostly on special teams.
With Jeffery and Agholor iffy for Sunday, and DeSean Jackson on IR, the Eagles’ healthy receiver contingent consists of Ward, Mack Hollins, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and the recently re-signed Jordan Matthews.
Lane Johnson Out Sunday
- The Eagles will be dealing with injuries of their own, as Lane Johnson is set to miss the matchup against Seattle. The veteran right tackle suffered a head injury during last weekend’s loss to the Patriots, and he remains in the concussion protocol. Rookie first-rounder Andre Dillard will slide into the starting lineup.
QB Notes: Rudolph, Rosen, Wentz
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph told reporters he did not say anything that “escalated” the altercation between him and Myles Garrett, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. Garrett, of course, swung a helmet at Rudolph’s bare head and received an indefinite suspension from the league, which he is currently appealing. While Garrett was not the only player suspended, many have criticized the league for handing no suspension to Rudolph for instigating the situation.
At the moment, Rudolph has yet to hear from the league regarding any punishment, per Kaboly. Although everyone believes a fine will be coming his way.
Here’s some more news surrounding quarterbacks around the league:
- While Dolphins head coach Brian Flores revealed Ryan Fitzpatrick would be the team’s starter this week at quarterback, he left the door open for Josh Rosen to retake the mantle at some point in the near future. Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald speculates that a three-game stretch beginning on December 8th could have massive implications for Miami’s draft position. Giving the reigns back to Rosen could both help the team evaluate his long-term future and improve their draft standing, per Beasley.
- Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has struggled recently. Even with his poor play of late, Philadelphia’s starting center Jason Kelce said he has “all the faith in the world [in Wentz]” during an interview on 94 WIP. At 5-5, the Eagles have failed to live up to lofty expectations and in last week’s 17-10 loss to the Patriots, Wentz completed just 20 of 40 pass attempts. However, with former backup Nick Foles now in Jacksonville, current backup Josh McCown is not going to push Wentz for playing time anytime soon.