Eagles Filling Injury Holes On Offensive Line
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles' offensive line was healthy throughout much of the 2013 season. It has been a different story just one game into the 2014 campaign.
With Lane Johnson out four games due to a suspension, Allen Barbre was expected to take Johnson's place. However, Barbre is out for the season with an high ankle sprain. Left Guard Evan Mathis won't be back until at least the tenth week of the season with a knee injury. Despite the injuries, Quarterback Nick Foles is confident the back-ups will be ready to play on Monday night when the Eagles take on the Colts in Indianapolis.
"I have 100% confidence in those guys," said Foles. "You hate seeing guys go down, especially if you're a lineman like Allen and Evan, but these guys are going to step in and do their job. My job is to just execute and do my job."
The team would not name starters at the two open line positions, but their Wednesday practice may have offered a clue as to who will be playing. Dennis Kelly worked out at left guard, and Andrew Gardner was working out right tackle. Gardner says he would have no problem settling in on the line with his teammates, especially after being pressed into action last week.
"The room gets along," Gardner said. "There's a lot of rapport among everybody. "The more you play next to a guy, the better you communicate."
Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur was pleased with how his back-up lineman performed last week in their win over Jacksonville. Shurmur knows injuries are a part of the game, and believes the practice rotations have kept the reserves ready to go when called upon.
"Everybody deals with it," said Shurmur. "It's rare when you have to put two new guys in a game. We've all dealt with having to put in one, but the guys that went in did a great job and I think it's a function of our culture and how we practice that they were able to do it so well."
No matter who starts on Monday in Indianapolis, players such as Tackle Jason Peters aren't worried about a drop in offensive production.
"Everybody's going to do their job," Peters said. "When everybody's doing their job, we're going to score points. It's not going to be a letdown Monday night. We're going to do what we do."
Wide Receiver Josh Huff (shoulder) and Offensive Lineman Matt Tobin (knee) did not practice on Wednesday.
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