Chip Kelly must reeeeaaaally believe in his sports science stuff, as the Eagles signed a mix of the most injury prone players in the NFL this offseason. Let's recap all the Eagles' signings, and take a look at their recent injury histories (in alphabetical order):
Kiko Alonso, ILB: Alonso tore his ACL while working out during the 2014 offseason, and missed the entire season.
Miles "Hamstrings" Austin, WR (assuming he officially signs): Austin appeared on the injury report 26 times from 2011-2013 with various nagging knee, hamstring, and hip injuries. He went on IR in 2014 with a kidney injury.
Connor Barwin, OLB: In 2010, Barwin dislocated his ankle and missed the entire season. He has not missed a game since. Barwin is the alpha male of the group. (h/t @t_mcallister on Barwin pic)
Brandon Graham, OLB: Graham tore his ACL in 2011, missing 13 games, but he has played all 16 games in each of the last three seasons.
Brad Jones, ILB: Jones missed 4 games with a hamstring injury in 2013, and three games with a quadriceps injury in 2014.
Ryan Mathews, RB: Mathews has only played all 16 games once in his career. When he wasn't missing games, he was often playing with some kind of injury. From 2010-2014, Mathews appeared on the injury report a staggering 46 times. Per a league source, the Chargers' injury report stationary had Mathews' name pre-printed on it (See below). He missed 10 games during the 2014 season with a sprained MCL and early in the season, and then an ankle sprain late. He broke both clavicles in 2012.
DeMarco Murray, RB: Murray went on injured reserve after breaking an ankle in 2011. He missed six games with a foot injury in 2012, and two games with a knee injury in 2013. It is also noteworthy that he is coming off a healthy in 2014 season in which he had an extreme workload of 497 touches (including the playoffs).
DeMeco Ryans, ILB: In 2010, Ryans tore his left Achilles tendon and missed the Texans' last 10 games. In 2014, he tore his right Achilles and missed the Eagles' last eight games.
Mark Sanchez, QB: During the 2013 preseason, Sanchez suffered a labral tear in his throwing shoulder and missed the entire season.
Walter Thurmond, CB: Thurmond suffered a severe broken leg, which cut his 2011 season short after six games, and caused him to start the 2012 season on the PUP list. Those two seasons, he missed 26 games (including the playoffs). In 2013, he missed four games due to suspension, and in 2014, he missed 14 games with a torn pectoral muscle. That would be 44 missed games over the last four years.
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