Wentz Still Not 100 Percent
The Eagles have struggled mightily in 2018, and while a lot of their troubles can be explained by the rash of injuries they’ve suffered on defense, the offense has also been much worse than last year. Carson Wentz hasn’t looked like himself, and now we have some clarity on why. Wentz returned because Nick Foles was awful the first couple of weeks, and rushed himself back in the process. Wentz is still not 100 percent, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link), who reports Wentz still isn’t able to plant “hard on his left foot.”
Wentz came back from a torn ACL and LCL, which Rapoport says is supposed to take at least a full year to recover from. It helps explain why Wentz hasn’t played at the level we’re all used to, and could mean the Eagles’ offense will only trend upward as the season progresses and he gains more and more confidence in his leg.
Latest On Eagles’ Cornerbacks
The Eagles secondary is beyond banged up. As the team gears up for Sunday’s game against the Giants, Chandon Sullivan, Cre’Von LeBlanc, and DeVante Bausby stand as the team’s only healthy cornerbacks, head coach Doug Pederson says. 
[RELATED: Eagles Activate DT Timmy Jernigan]
Jalen Mills, Rasul Douglas, Avonte Maddox, and Sidney Jones were unable to take the practice field on Friday. It’s a terrible spot for the Eagles to be in after losing star Ronald Darby to a torn ACL.
To fill the gap, the Eagles have employed reserve wide receivers as cornerbacks in practice. That won’t fly in a real game, so the Eagles may have to make a move or two in the next couple of days. Practice squad defensive back Jeremiah McKinnon may be a leading candidate for promotion, but no decision has been made on that front just yet.
At 4-6, the Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives on Sunday. The Giants have been largely atrocious this year, but they’re riding a two-game winning streak and they’ll be motivated to spoil the Eagles’ season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/20/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Hunter Sharp, WR Aaron Wallace
- Placed on IR: DL Andrew Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: T David Steinmetz
- Released: CB Andre Chachere
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Saeed Blacknall
- Released: WR Rashard Davis
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: C Anthony Fabiano, CB Jeremiah McKinnon
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Malachi Dupre
- Released: RB Troymaine Pope
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/20/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB David Amerson
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Chris Jones, WR Jalen Tolliver
- Released: DE Vontarrius Dora
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from Eagles practice squad: OL Josh Andrews
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DB Josh Shaw
Eagles Activate DT Timmy Jernigan
The Eagles have activated defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan from the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list. To make room, they’ve waived fellow defensive tackle T.Y. McGill. 
Jernigan has been on the NFIO list since undergoing back surgery in May, but he returned to the practice field earlier this month. After a 48-7 drumming at the hands of the Saints, the Eagles can certainly use the help.
Jernigan, 26, started in 15 games for the Eagles last year plus the entirety of their Super Bowl run. In the regular season, Jernigan notched 29 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and nine tackles for a loss.
The fifth-year pro will look to keep the 4-6 Eagles in the playoff fight upon his return. He’ll also look to secure his future in Philadelphia. After his operation, the Eagles pushed Jernigan to alter the remaining three years on his four-year, $48MM extension. Those seasons are now team option years with no guaranteed money.
Jernigan’s 2018 debut may come against the Giants on Sunday afternoon. It stands to reason that he will come off the bench in his first game back, offering support to Fletcher Cox and Haloti Ngata.
Eagles CBs Maddox, Douglas Suffer Injuries
The Eagles’ secondary continues to be hit hard by injuries. Cornerbacks Avonte Maddox and Rasul Douglas both suffered knee injuries in Sunday’s 48-7 loss to the Saints, but as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, the maladies are not as bad as initially feared. 
The exact nature of Maddox’s injury is not immediately clear, but it is not believed to be a season ender. Instead, he is week-to-week, and Douglas is presumably in the same boat after his knee injury was deemed to be only a sprain.
In any event, the Eagles can ill afford more injuries in the secondary. The Eagles just lost star corner Ronald Darby for the season and Jalen Mills has missed the last two games with a foot injury. Mills’ status for Sunday against the Giants is murky and the same goes for Sidney Jones after he tweaked his hamstring, so the Eagles could be forced to draw from a group led by Chandon Sullivan, Cre’Von LeBlanc, and De’Vante Bausby.
No matter how things shake out, it stands to reason that the Eagles will sign at least one new corner this week.
Colts To Sign Josh Andrews
The Colts are expected to sign center/guard Josh Andrews off the Eagles’ practice squad, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Starter Ryan Kelly is likely to miss time with a knee injury suffered on Sunday, so Andrews will provide them with depth in the interim.
Kelly went down in the fourth quarter of the Colts’ 38-10 win over the Titans on Sunday. It’s especially unfortunate since Kelly may be in the midst of his best season to date. The former first-round pick ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 8 center in the NFL and has started in all ten of the Colts’ games so far. Meanwhile, the 5-5 Colts kept their playoff hopes alive with the win over the Titans and have a chance at the postseason if they finish strong over the final six games.
Andrews, 27, entered the league as a UDFA with the Colts in 2014. He has 16 games of experience between 2015 and 2016, but has not seen live action in the last two years.
Eagles Place CB Ronald Darby On IR
Ronald Darby‘s season is officially over. ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that the Eagles have placed the cornerback on the injured reserve. The team has promoted cornerback De’Vante Bausby from the practice squad to take the open roster spot.
Darby injured his right knee during last week’s loss to the Cowboys, and he was later diagnosed with a torn ACL. Fortunately, it sounds like the 24-year-old will make a full recovery. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that it was “a clean tear with no other issues or complications.” Prior to his injury, Darby was among the 30 best cornerbacks in the NFL this season, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. In nine games this season, the defensive back had compiled 43 tackles, 12 passes defended, and one interception.
The Eagles are struggling at cornerback, as both Jalen Mills and Sidney Jones missed last weekend’s contest. The team rolled with four cornerbacks for the majority of the second half against Dallas: Avonte Maddox, Rasul Douglas, Chandon Sullivan, and Cre’von LeBlanc.
Bausby, a 2015 undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh State, has also had stints with the Chiefs and Bears during his brief career. In four career games, the 25-year-old has compiled 12 tackles.
Eagles Activate TE Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers will return to action after the Eagles made the decision to activate him Friday, per Jeff McLane of Philly.com (on Twitter).
While Rodgers joins Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert on Philadelphia’s active roster, he’ll replace tight end Joshua Perkins. The Eagles waived Perkins to make room on their roster for Rodgers.
The former Packers tight end returned to practice recently, and the Eagles aren’t wasting time getting him ready for game action. He’s been on IR throughout the season and has not played for his new team yet. Rodgers is signed to a one-year deal, so the next batch of Eagles games will be key for his value going forward.
The fifth-year target’s best season came in 2015, when he caught 58 passes for 510 yards and eight touchdowns — one of those a final-play game-winner from Aaron Rodgers in Detroit — but he managed just 12 receptions for 160 yards last season in 15 Green Bay games. He’ll fill in as depth behind Ertz and Goedert for an Eagles team clinging to playoff aspirations.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Cut: WR Montay Crockett
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Denzel Rice
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Chad Hansen
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Steve Ishmael, DE Anthony Winbush
- Released: OT De’Ondre Wesley
Oakland Raiders
- Cut: DE James Cowser
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Will Tye
- Cut: TE Billy Brown
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Ralph Webb
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Mike Jordan