Injury Report: Eagles Are Healthy And Ready For Dallas Cowboys
By Kevin McGuire
The Philadelphia Eagles will be as close to 100 percent ready and available for Sunday night’s NFC East showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. Aside from quarterback Nick Foles, every other player on the official Eagles injury report Friday afternoon is listed as probable. The special teams unit looks to be in good shape after looking a little banged up following the home loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
Kicker Cody Parkey has been extremely reliable this season, but a nagging right groin injury left him limited in practice on Wednesday. The good news is Parkey has been available as a full participant for each of the final two practices of the week before taking on the Cowboys on Sunday night. With PArkey handling field goal attempts, the Eagles should be in good shape when it comes to kicking. Parkey has been putting together a season worthy of All-Pro consideration if he continues on this pace.
Running back Chris Polk was also limited on Wednesday but finished the week strong as a full participant two days in a row. Polk is listed with an ankle injury, which should be more of a concern on special teams instead of the running game. LeSean McCoy will continue to lead the ground game, and Polk should still get some carries as well alongside Darren Sproles.
Wide receiver Josh Huff (hip) and tight end Trey Burton (hamstring) have been available for full practices all week and are also listed as probable on the offensive side of the football.
Defensive end Cedric Thornton’s groin injury has not slowed him down in practices this week as far as his availability has been concerned. The starting defensive end has been listed as a full participant all week and should be available Sunday night. If Thornton needs a rest, Vinny Curry will step in and line up on the line when needed. Linebacker Emmanuel Acho will also be probable after being listed as a full participant in practices all week. Acho has been working through a groin injury and will continue to step in for starters Casey Matthews or Mychal Kendricks when needed in the middle of the defense.
The only Eagles player that remains out is quarterback Nick Foles. As has been the case for weeks now, Mark Sanchez will get the start in his place. This week could be pivotal for the plans moving forward as well. If Sanchez plays well and leads the Eagles to a victory, it is realistic to suggest Head Coach Chip Kelly will ride out the rest of the season with Sanchez under center for better or worse. If Sanchez does struggle, Kelly may be more quick to return to Foles on offense whenever the quarterback with the broken collarbone does have the ability to play. Kelly has shown a willingness to ride with the hot hand under center despite unwritten injury rules about playing time in his short time in Philadelphia, so do not expect that to change.
Probable
- LB Emmanuel Acho (groin)
- TE Trey Burton (hamstring)
- WR Josh Huff (hip)
- K Cody Parkey (right groin)
- RB Chris Polk (ankle)
- DE Cedric Thornton (groin)
Out
- QB Nick Foles
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Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
