Ertz, McKelvin Likely Back By Week 5
- As long as Ryan Mathews is healthy, he will remain the Eagles‘ top running back, per Doug Pederson (via Zach Berman of Philly.com). The problem, as it’s been for much of the running back’s career, stems from the fact the second-year Eagle again might not be healthy. Mathews left Sunday’s game against the Steelers after playing just eight snaps due to a left ankle injury. Mathews struggled with left ankle trouble in training camp as well.
- The Eagles expect Zach Ertz and Leodis McKelvin to return after the team’s Week 4 bye, Berman reports. Philadelphia’s starting tight end has missed the past two games with a displaced rib, and McKelvin has missed the same amount of time due to a hamstring ailment.
DGB's Role To Increase; Wisniewski To Start At LG If Johnson Suspended
- Eagles head coach Doug Pederson expects Dorial Green-Beckham‘s role to increase as DGB continues to learn the offense and get healthy, as Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com writes. Through the first two games, Green-Beckham has had just six passes thrown his way, though Pederson says DGB was the primary target on several plays in the team’s Week 2 win over Chicago, but the defense dictated that the play go elsewhere.
- If Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is in fact suspended for PED use–his hearing is set for October 4–Marc Narducci of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the team will move left guard Allen Barbre to right tackle and promote Stefen Wisniewski to the starting lineup to take Barbre’s place.
Eagles Make Practice Squad Changes
Philadelphia Eagles
Appeal Date Set For Eagles’ Lane Johnson
Finally, Lane Johnson has a date for his appeal. The Eagles tackle will have his case heard on October 4th, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. In the interim, Johnson will play on Sunday against the Steelers. Then, the Eagles have Week 4 bye. 
If Johnson’s suspension is upheld, he will be suspended for ten games, starting with the Oct. 9 contest against the Lions. Then, Johnson would be left with the final three games of the season: Dec. 18 against the Ravens, Dec. 22 against the Giants, and Jan. 1 versus the Cowboys.
Johnson tested positive for PEDs in August but he claims that he took a tainted amino acid. Johnson’s reps were hoping that the B sample on this most recent test would show something different than the A sample, but he learned before Monday night’s game that they matched up. The 26-year-old was already suspended four games for PEDs in 2014, so he is facing a much stiffer punishment this time around.
It’s not immediately clear how the Eagles would change up their offensive line if they’re without Johnson for an extended period of time.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Reich Likens Wentz To Luck, Kelly
Further illustrating the Eagles‘ belief in Carson Wentz and their motivation to make the seminal trade with the Browns in April, new Philadelphia OC Frank Reich offered some high-end comparisons for the No. 2 overall pick.
- The Eagles trading Sam Bradford to the Vikings opened the door not only for Wentz to receive an early start on Sundays, but it cleared a path toward endless practice reps instead of a short-term future as Philly’s third-stringer, Jeff McLane of Philly.com writes. Reich told media, including McLane, there was “no question” the additional practice work would accelerate Wentz’s development compared to a season spent behind Bradford and Chase Daniel. Per McLane, Wentz did not speak up much in quarterback meetings while he was the No. 3 quarterback, instead deferring to the veterans. Daniel functions as the scout-team quarterback, and the meetings are geared around a Wentz-conducted offense.
- Doug Pederson expected to hear something on Lane Johnson‘s lingering suspension by now, Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com notes, but the league has yet to announce the expected 10-game ban. “You would think you would have heard something by now,” Pederson said. “If it does happen down the road, it just pushes everything back. Me personally, I’d rather know now than later. But until then, [Johnson] is the guy.” Pederson said Stefen Wisniewski would play left guard after current starter Allen Barbre swings to right tackle in the event Johnson’s ruling comes down. Wisniewski usurped Isaac Seumalo as the next guard up since the Eagles initially announced their Johnson contingency plan.
Mychal Kendricks Frustated With Status
- Mychal Kendricks agreed to a four-year, $29MM extension with the Chip Kelly-run Eagles last year but saw his role changed to that of a base defense-only linebacker in Jim Schwartz‘s 4-3 defense. The fifth-year ‘backer isn’t exactly ready to concede he’s not a three-down linebacker, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. “I’m not putting my ego aside. I’m just putting it in check,” Kendricks said. “Trust me, that [stuff] is very much there. And quote that. Write that [stuff].” Sidelined during the preseason with a hamstring injury, Kendricks saw Nigel Bradham join Jordan Hicks in the Eagles’ nickel package in Week 1. None of Kendricks post-2016 money is fully guaranteed, McLane writes. Kendricks would see $4.35MM become fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2017 league year, however, if he remains on Philadelphia’s roster by then.
PFR’s Impact Rookies Series
All summer long, longtime scouting consultant Dave-Te Thomas of The NFL Draft Report has been breaking down the draft class of every team in the league and identifying the players that can immediately make a difference. The Impact Rookies series, which wrapped up today with a look at the Seahawks, provides unique insight to this year’s NFL freshman class from a veteran guru who worked closely with several teams around the league leading up to the draft.
Here is the full rundown of the Impact Rookies series:
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
Eagles Audition QB Brad Sorensen
- In addition to Aaron Dobson, the Eagles‘ Monday workout included three other wide receivers and quarterback Brad Sorensen, Geoff Mosher of 97.5 tweets. Sorensen, 28, was signed by Minnesota in August, released later that month, re-signed after Teddy Bridgewater’s season-ending injury, then cut again in early September. He has yet to throw a pass in an NFL regular season game.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/16
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Blake Sims (link via Matt Zenitz of AL.com)
- Cut: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Marquis Bundy (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Chris Hubert (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB/KR Raheem Mostert (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
- Cut: RB Senorise Perry (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune), OL Laurence Gibson (Twitter link via Biggs)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com)
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: LB Kyle Kragen (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post)
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: CB Tay Glover-Wright (Twitter link via Wilson), S Lee Hightower (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: DT Kelcy Quarles, OL Adam Redmond (Twitter link via Wilson)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cut: WR Shaq Evans (Twitter link via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Tre Roberson, CB Julian Wilson (via team announcement)
- Cut: OT Carter Bykowski, S Shamiel Gary (via team announcement)
New England Patriots
- Cut: DB Mike Hilton (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN.com)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Taveze Calhoun (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate), TE Jake Stoneburner (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com)
- Cut: FB Austin Johnson (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Times-Picayune), DE Bobby Richardson (Twitter link via Erickson)
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner
- Cut: QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Takoby Cofield (Twitter link via reps at Precision Sports)
- Cut: LB Jason Fanaika (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: QB Aaron Murray (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Marcus Johnson, TE M.J. McFarland (injury settlement, Twitter link via Wilson)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Tylor Harris (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), QB Jake Heaps (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times), OL Michael Ola (Twitter link via Condotta)
- Cut: WR Kasen Williams (Twitter link via Condotta), DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Condotta) and WE Rodney Smith (Twitter link via Condotta)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Cameron Lynch (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA News Channel 8), DT Rodney Coe (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Cut: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Auman)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB Alex Tanney (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OL Ronald Patrick
Washington Redskins
- Cut: OL Nila Kasitati (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim)
Eagles Work Out Aaron Dobson
Former Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson recently worked out for the Eagles, according to a source who spoke with Doug Kyed of NESN (on Twitter). Dobson has been out of work since New England cut him prior to the 53-man deadline.
Dobson, 25, is a former second-round pick, but he didn’t do a whole lot during his time with the Pats. In three seasons with the club, the Marshall product totaled just 53 catches for under 700 yards. Making matters worse, the majority of that production came during his rookie season. In the last two seasons, Dobson has tallied only 16 receptions.
The Eagles signed pass-catchers Rueben Randle and Chris Givens during the offseason, but neither made the club’s initial roster despite the fact that they both secured guaranteed money. Jordan Matthews and 2015 first-round pick Nelson Agholor both have solid season debuts against the Browns yesterday, but Philadelphia’s wide receiving corps isn’t all that impressive as a whole. Behind their top two options, the Eagles boast Josh Huff, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Bryce Treggs at wideout.
The Jets worked out Dobson late last week but he left without a deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.