Three Philadelphia Eagles starters got banged up and had to leave early during the team’s Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns: Dallas Goedert, Jordan Mailata, and Darius Slay. Here’s the latest news on those injuries.
Goedert left the game after playing just three snaps due to a hamstring injury. The starting tight end “could be out for a few weeks,” according to the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane.
It sounds like Goedert could avoid going on injured reserve, which would cause him to automatically miss at least four games. So, there’s that.
But not ideal that he’ll once again be missing time. Goedert hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year in 2018 (before the expansion to 17 games).
With Goedert out, the Eagles have two healthy tight ends on the active roster: Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll. Calcaterra has shown some juice as a pass-catcher but has really struggled as a blocker. Stoll doesn’t offer much as a receiving target but can contribute as a blocker.
The Eagles also have two practice squad tight ends: E.J. Jenkins and C.J. Uzomah. Jenkins has one temporary practice squad elevation remaining this season. He’s more in the Calcaterra mold while Uzomah is more of a blocker (in theory, at least, because he wasn’t very good in reality this summer).
It’s worth noting that Albert Okwuegbunam is eligible to return from injured reserve, though the team has not yet activated his practice window.
Mailata told SportsRadio 94WIP’s Afternoon Show the following:
“It’s a hammy injury and I’m gonna miss a couple of games. It’s really my first hamstring injury and just trusting the team in whatever direction we go forward with.”
It’s unclear if “couple” means literally two. I’m no doctor, but, given the way he’s walking in the preceding video … seems like he could miss more than just two. We’ll see.
In the meantime, the Eagles have two potential replacement paths:
1) Start Fred Johnson at left tackle
2) Move Mekhi Becton to left tackle and start Tyler Steen at right guard
The feeling here is that Fred Johnson makes more sense as an in-game replacement than he does entering the game as a starter. There’s value in not changing multiple offensive line spots during a game. Entering the game, however, there should be enough prep time to get everyone comfortable. Fred Johnson has had some issues in pass protection and Steen’s looked good when he’s had to play. I’d argue that Becton, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Steen, and Lane Johnson is the Eagles’ best five with Mailata out.
Poll
What should the Eagles do at left tackle?
Start Fred Johnson at LT
Start Mekhi Becton at LT, put Tyler Steen at RG
DARIUS SLAY
Slay is “trending toward being good for Sunday” after suffering a knee injury against the Browns, per McLane.
If Slay gets hurt again, it’s worth noting that Isaiah Rodgers — not Kelee Ringo — was the replacement off the bench.
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