December 21, 2018
As we say every week, the Philadelphia Eagles' injury report is loaded with ailing players, and their Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans is no different. Jordan Hicks will return to the lineup, as he does not appear on the injury report. Hicks last played Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints.
Here's the final Friday Eagles-Texans injury report, with analysis:
• QB Carson Wentz (back): Wentz is likely done for the rest of the regular season, and also probably for the playoffs, should the Eagles make it that far. That said, the team has not yet placed him on IR, so they have not yet shut him down for the season.
• CB Sidney Jones (hamstring): Jones has suffered several setbacks this season to a hamstring that has never really gotten better.
• LG Isaac Seumalo (pectoral): Seumalo was injured against the Cowboys, and Stefen Wisniewski filled in at LG. Wis held his own (with plenty of help) against Aaron Donald, and I suspect the Texans will line up J.J. Watt against him at times this Sunday as well.
• DE Michael Bennett (foot): Bennett has been the Eagles' most productive edge rusher this season, as he has collected 8 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Bennett has played through pain for the last month, and it is expected that he'll do the same against the Texans.
• DT Timmy Jernigan (back): Jernigan played 20 snaps against the Giants a month ago, but he had some back spasms flare up on him prior to the Eagles' win over the Redskins, and has not played since. If he can go, that would be a big boost to the defensive line.
• CB Cre'Von LeBlanc (hamstring): LeBlanc is officially an Eagles corner now that he has made his first appearance on the injury report with a hamstring injury. The Eagles need him. Last week against the Rams, the Eagles found a winning formula with Avonte Maddox and Rasul Douglas on the outside, and LeBlanc in the slot.
• LB D.J. Alexander (hamstring): Special teamer only. Alexander recovered a fumble last Sunday in L.A.
• DE Derek Barnett (IR): Barnett had shoulder surgery, and his season is over. Barnett was the starting RDE who was off to a fast start this season, collecting 2.5 sacks (including a game-ending sack against the Indianapolis Colts), before suffering a shoulder injury against the Tennessee Titans. He played two games through the injury, but was much less effective than when he was fully healthy. Michael Bennett has taken over as the new starting RDE.
• CB Jalen Mills (IR): Mills was toasted quite a bit during the early part of the season, but he was playing better when he went down with a foot injury. After seeing some of his replacements in action over the last few games, it is clear why Schwartz prefers Mills over the rest of the bunch.
• CB Ronald Darby (IR): Darby was up and down as a starter this season before he tore his ACL. At a minimum, he's a lot better than the players who are trying to replace him.
• RB Jay Ajayi (IR): Ajayi was acquired from the Miami Dolphins at the trade deadline last season, and he was a contributor to the Eagles' Super Bowl run, carrying 70 times for 408 yards (5.8 YPC) and 1 TD during the regular season, and then adding 184 yards on 42 carries during the playoffs. In four games this season, Ajayi rushed 45 times for 184 yards and 3 TDs, while playing through a fracture in his back. He was placed on IR with a torn ACL.
• S Rodney McLeod (IR): McLeod is done for the season after tearing his MCL during the Eagles' win over the Indianapolis Colts. On the season, he had 10 tackles and four pass breakups, which doesn't properly convey the positive contributions he made in the first three games. McLeod was replaced initially by Corey Graham, and later Avonte Maddox.
• WR Mike Wallace (IR): Wallace, formerly the Eagles' No. 2 receiver, broke his fibula against the Buccaneers. Doug Pederson has noted that Wallace is doing well, but he is not yet ready to return.
• RB Corey Clement (IR): In 2017, Clement had a great rookie season, culminating in a standout performance in the Super Bowl, when he caught four passes for 100 yards and a TD. Many thought he would build on his impressive rookie season in 2018, but that never happened, as Clement was hampered with a quad injury. In 2018, he had 68 carries for 269 yards (3.8 YPC) and two TDs on the ground, and 22 catches for 192 yards (8.7 YPC) and zero TDs through the air.
• WR Mack Hollins (IR): The Eagles will also be without their No. 4 receiver, as the Eagles placed Hollins on IR with a groin injury. Like Wallace, Hollins is not yet ready to return.
• ST Chris Maragos (PUP): Maragos is still recovering from a serious knee injury suffered Week 6 last year against the Carolina Panthers. He had a second surgery on his knee this week.
• TE Josh Perkins (IR): Perkins is done for the season with a knee injury. The Eagles activated Richard Rodgers off of IR to replace him.
• OT Jordan Mailata (IR): We never got a chance to see Mailata in real game action.
• S Mike Tyson (concussion): Tyson has 50 career wins (44 by way of knockout), 6 losses, and two bouts resulting in no contest.
• WR DeAndre Hopkins (ankle): There's an argument to be made that Hopkins is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Since he entered the league in 2013, he has 507 receptions for 7,186 yards and 47 TDs. Hopkins hurt his ankle and remained down for a bit after his lead-changing TD reception against the Jets last week:
• RB Lamar Miller (ankle): The Texans' leading rusher so far this season is Miller, who has rushed 193 times for 917 (4.8 YPC) and 6 TDs. There's a possibility that D'Onta Foreman could make a return to the lineup for the first time since he ruptured his Achilles in November last season. Whether it's a hobbled Miller, a rusty Foreman, or an ineffective Alfred Blue, the Texans' run game is likely going to be hampered to some degree.
• OG Senio Kelemete (elbow/rib/illness): Kelemete is suffering from the ol’ elbow/rib/illness trifecta. He is the Texans’ starting LG.
• CB Johnathan Joseph (hip/illness): Joseph is a good, veteran starting corner. The Texans already have a couple of injured corners on IR, noted below.
• WR Keke Coutee (hamstring): Coutee is a rookie receiver with 4.43 speed. When he has played, he has been productive, catching 28 passes for 287 yards and a TD in just 6 games.
• DT Brandon Dunn (ankle): Dunn is a rotational defensive lineman. He has 24 tackles and a forced fumble on the season.
• WR Will Fuller (IR): Fuller has 4.32 speed and was the Texans' deep threat, before he tore his ACL. In seven games this season, Fuller had 32 catches for 503 yards (15.7 YPC) and 4 TDs.
• RT Seantrel Henderson (IR): Henderson was the Texans' starting RT. He had surgery to repair a broken ankle, and is done for the season. The Texans' current starting RT is Kendall Lamm.
• CB Kevin Johnson (IR): Johnson is a former first-round pick of the Texans, and regular contributor. He went on IR after suffering a concussion Week 1 against the Patriots.
• CB Kayvon Webster (IR): Webster came back from a Ruptured Achilles for two plays, when he injured his quad and went on IR.
• LB Brennan Scarlett (IR): Scarlett went on IR with an ankle injury. In 2018, he had 18 tackles, 3 pass breakups, a pick, and a forced fumble in 12 games.
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