November 26, 2017
As we noted in our Eagles-Bears injury report, the Bears are a rare team that is more banged up than the Eagles. The Eagles have released their inactives for their matchup at 1:00 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field against the Bears.
First, to note, kicker Jake Elliott will play today. He cleared the NFL's concussion protocol earlier this week.
• TE Trey Burton: On the season, Burton has 11 catches for 111 yards and 2 TDs. Against the Bears Week 2 last season, Burton had his best receiving game as a pro, catching 5 catches for 49 yards and a TD.
• WR Marcus Johnson: Huh? Shelton Gibson is up instead. OK.
• RB Wendell Smallwood: Smallwood was inactive last week against the Dallas Cowboys as well. It would seem Smallwood is in the doghouse with the Eagles' staff.
• QB Nate Sudfeld: The Eagles promoted Sudfeld to the active 53-man roster from the practice squad, but he'll be inactive for the rest of the season, barring injury.
• OT Will Beatty: Beatty was signed last week after not having played for months. He'll need time to get back into football shape.
• LB Dannell Ellerbe: Ellerbe has been with the team for two weeks. Like Beatty, he'll have to get back into football shape.
• LT Jason Peters: Peters tore his ACL and MCL against the Redskins. While the Eagles certainly miss Peters, his loss has not devastated the team so far, s they have gotten competent play from Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
• LB Jordan Hicks: Hicks wasn't off to his best season this year when he went down with a ruptured Achilles. Still, it's a big loss for the Eagles' defense, and Hicks has traditionally been a Cowboys killer.
• RB Darren Sproles: Sproles is done for the season with a torn ACL. On the field, Sproles was the Eagles' most well-rounded running back, as he can run inside, run outside, be a weapon in the passing game, and he's easily the team's best back in pass protection. Obviously, because of his small size, however, Sproles has been never been used as a 'workhorse' type of back, but he was typically on the field in the Eagles' most crucial situations. He was also the team's primary punt returner.
The Eagles' acquisition of Ajayi signals a change in running styles from the small elusive group the Eagles had back in May, to the bruising combo of Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount that they now have.
• CB Sidney Jones: Jones remains on the NFI list. If and when the Eagles activate him, Jones will be allowed to practice for three weeks before the Eagles will have to decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster or shut him down for the season. The Eagles still have time to decide to take him off the NFI list before his three-week practice period.
• K Caleb Sturgis: Sturgis was placed on IR with a quad injury suffered Week 1 against the Redskins. He was replaced by newly minted Philadelphia legend Jake Elliott.
• S Chris Maragos: Maragos suffered a knee injury against the Panthers, and was placed on IR. He was the Eagles' best player on their kick coverage unit on special teams, and served as the Eagles' special teams captain.
• OLB Leonard Floyd: Floyd is a talented young pass rusher, and would have simply been the next in line for Lane Johnson. On the season, Floyd had 4.5 sacks, after registering 7 sacks as a rookie. Sam Acho will likely take his place.
• OLB Willie Young: In three seasons with the Bears from 2014-2016, Young had 24 sacks. He had 2 sacks after four games this season before he was placed on IR with a torn triceps.
• LB Jerrell Freeman: In five seasons prior to 2017, Freeman had 588 tackles (118 per season), 12 sacks, and four INTs. He was suspended for 10 games for a second violation of the leagues policy on PEDs.
• WR Kevin White: White was the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. White has had an injury-plagued career in which he has played in just five games. After one game this season, White went on IR with a fractured shoulder blade.
• WR Cameron Meredith: Meredith led the Bears in 2016 with 66 catches for 888 yards and 4 TDs. He tore his ACL prior to the start of the 2017 season.
• TE Zach Miller: Miller almost had to have his leg amputated after a gruesome injury suffered Week 8 against the Saints. Before his injury, Miller had 20 catches for 236 yards and 2 TDs as the Bears' starting TE.
• S Quintin Demps: Yep, that Quintin Demps. He's still in the league, apparently.
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