September 20, 2015
When it rains, it pours.
The Eagles, off to their second slow start in as many weeks, fell behind to the Cowboys, 3-0, in the first quarter of their home opener. Then, late in the second quarter, linebacker Kiko Alonso headed back into the tunnel that leads to the Eagles locker room.
A few minutes later, it was announced that the former Bill, acquired in the offseason for LeSean McCoy, has suffered a left knee injury and will not return to the game. That's the same knee Alonso had surgically repaired after tearing his ACL in July of 2014. He also missed some time this preseason with tendinitis in that knee.
No word yet on the severity of Alonso's injury, but the fact that the team immediately announced that he would not return doesn't bode well for the 25-year-old.
But it gets worse.
Later in the same Cowboys drive, it was announced that fellow inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks had to leave the game with a hamstring injury. They later announced that he would not return.
Long-term implications aside, the loss of Alonso and Kendricks could greatly hurt the Eagles in the second half against the Cowboys. DeMeco Ryans struggled early covering the Cowboys tight ends, although he made up for it with a pass break up in the end zone against Jason Witten. However, the play that set up first and goal for Dallas was a crossing route to Gavin Escobar in which Ryans was at least a step or two behind the tight end.
Ryans was also flagged twice on the Cowboys final drive of the first half -- it ended on a Dan Bailey field goal -- both of which resulted in first downs for Dallas.
We'll have updates both he and Kendricks as soon as they become available.
