December 17, 2017
As we noted earlier this week, when the Eagles and Giants played way back in Week 3, the only notable player on IR at the time, for either team, was kicker Caleb Sturgis. Since then, the Eagles' and Giants' injured reserve list has been loaded up with star players and key starters.
The Eagles and Giants have announced their inactives:
• OG Stefen Wisniewski: The Eagles will once again have to play Chance Warmack or Isaac Seumalo at LG. Both Warmack and Seumalo played against the Rams, and both struggled.
• CB Rasul Douglas: The Giants have nothing on the outside at WR, so that makes sense.
• DE Steven Means: Means is the victim of a numbers crunch once again at DE.
• RB Wendell Smallwood: Smallwood was inactive the last three weeks against the Bears, Cowboys, and Seahawks. He is the fifth running back in the pecking order.
• LB Dannell Ellerbe: Ellerby was signed a few weeks ago after not having played for months. He'll need time to get back into football shape.
• WR Marcus Johnson: Shelton Gibson is up again in favor of Johnson, like he was the last three weeks.
• DT Elijah Qualls: Qualls is the fifth DT.
• QB Carson Wentz: The MVP award was going to be given to either Tom Brady or Carson Wentz, so obviously, the loss of Wentz cannot be understated. Filling in for Wentz will be Nick Foles.
• LT Jason Peters: Peters tore his ACL and MCL against the Redskins. The Eagles felt Peters' loss in a significant way for the first time in Seattle when Halapoulivaati Vaitai struggled against Seahawks DE Frank Clark.
• 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, though the Eagles have more than adapted.
• 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, though he did begin practicing this week. 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.
• K Caleb Sturgis: Sturgis was placed on IR with a quad injury suffered Week 1 against the Redskins. He was replaced by Jake Elliott.
• WR Odell Beckham: Obviously, Beckham is a diva, but there's no question about how good of a player he is. In four games this season, Beckham had 25 catches for 302 yards and 3 TDs. Somehow, he's still third on the team in receiving yards. That goes to show you how brutally bad his replacements have been.
• CB Janoris Jenkins: Jenkins was a high-cost free agent signing during the 2016 season that looked like it had paid off for the Giants a year ago. In 2017, Jenkins wasn't nearly as good, though he did have two pick-sixes. Ross Cockrell will start in place of Jenkins.
• OG/OT Justin Pugh: Pugh played both at OT and OG this season. The Giants placed him on IR this week with a back injury.
• C Weston Richberg: Richberg suffered a concussion early in October, which cost him his season. Former Calgary Stampeder Brett Jones has been playing at center ever since.
• LG D.J. Fluker: Yet another offensive line starter, Fluker was a mauler in the run game, but couldn't pass protect to save his life.
• WR Brandon Marshall: Marshall was a high-profile free agent signing this offseason, and then... (fart noise). In five games, Marshall had 18 catches for 154 yards (8.6 YPC), and no TDs. He went on IR with an ankle injury.
• LB Jonathan Casillas: Casillas is 'just a guy,' but he started eight games for the Giants. On the season, he had 35 tackles, and not much else.
• LB Keenan Robinson: Robinson played in six games, starting three. He had 32 tackles.
• WR Dwayne Harris: Special teams standout of yesteryear.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski.
Like Jimmy on Facebook.
Like the new PhillyVoice Sports page on Facebook.
