Injury Report: Eagles Will Be Thin At Cornerback Vs. Giants
By Kevin McGuire
With one final, meaningless game to play in the NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles look to be pretty thin in the defensive secondary. That should be a pretty scary thought with the New York Giants welcoming back Odell Beckham Jr. from suspension and Eli Manning looking to avenge a loss to the Birds from earlier in the season on his home turf. There may not be much to play for as the Eagles play the final game with an interim head coach following the shocking firing of Chip Kelly. The Eagles have ruled out cornerback Byron Maxwell and defensive tackle Bennie Logan from the regular season finale, and cornerback Jaylen Watkins is listed as questionable for the game.
Maxwell, one of the top offseason acquisitions under Kelly who has failed to deliver at times, has been out of practices all week with a shoulder injury. Watkins was limited in practice on Thursday, but he was available for full practices on Wednesday and Friday despite having a shin injury. The Eagles may wait to see how Watkins is feeling on game day before making a call on his availability, but his pending absence would certainly take a toll on the depth at the position for the final game of the year.
Special teams have been the most consistent part of the team this season, so the status of kicker Caleb Sturgis is noteworthy. Sturgis, who has been solid and dependable since being added to the roster early in the season, is working through a right hamstring injury. The hamstring injury has not held him out of practice, but might be worth keeping in mind any time the Eagles line up for a field goal attempt or extra point attempt.
Probable:
OT Dennis Kelly (ankle)
K Caleb Sturgis (right hamstring)
Questionable:
CB Jaylen Watkins (questionable)
Out:
WR Seyi Ajirotutu (ankle)
DT Bennie Logan (calf)
CB Byron Maxwell (shoulder)
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.
