Eagles defensive back James Bradberry out 6-8 weeks with leg injury

Eagles defensive back James Bradberry suffered a lower leg injury during Wednesday’s practice and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, NFL sources said.

The NFL Network was first to report Thursday on Bradberry’s injury.

The Eagles later announced Bradberry has been placed on injured reserve. The Eagles have been trying to trade the 31-year-old and still had hoped to move him after he made the team’s initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, NFL sources told The Inquirer. But Bradberry’s injury, which involves a tendon, could further complicate general manager Howie Roseman’s ability to get a deal done.

The Eagles are on the hook for all of Bradberry’s 2024 salary after they signed him to a three-year, $38 million contract, with $20 million guaranteed last offseason. He was coming off a season in which he was named a second-team All-Pro cornerback, but he struggled for most of the 2023 season.

» READ MORE: Eagles’ 53-man roster goes heavy at cornerback and safety, including James Bradberry for the time being

Bradberry subsequently transitioned to safety this year. He said it was a move he suggested. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio flatly stated that few outside cornerbacks successfully make the switch, and Bradberry has had his issues in practice and the preseason.

He never practiced at outside cornerback in training camp and showed last season that he lacked the necessary foot speed to keep up with top wide receivers. At safety, Bradberry showed some instincts, but he also made the occasional mental mistake. Tackling has been an issue throughout his career.

Bradberry surprisingly didn’t play in the preseason finale on Saturday. Whether it meant that he made the team or that the Eagles didn’t want an injury to thwart a possible trade, when the Eagles announced their initial 53-man roster, Bradberry was on it.

“James always has had really good football instincts,” Roseman said. “When you see him play safety every day here and see his ability to diagnose his football instincts. I think for all of us, that’s a transition. That’s a different position than playing outside corner.”

Roseman declined to guarantee that Bradberry would be on the roster through the entire season, although few players would be given such an assurance in late August. Nevertheless, the Eagles had hoped to get something in return for a player who is costing them a lot of money.

Bradberry’s salary-cap hit for this season isn’t significant ($4.305 million), but the Eagles still owe him close to $11 million. If they were to trade or release him with a post-June 1 designation, they would be able to spread what they owe him into future years.

With Bradberry placed on IR, the Eagles promoted linebacker Oren Burks to the active roster in a corresponding move. The 29-year-old Burks has appeared in 91 games over six NFL seasons, primarily on special teams. Versatile offensive lineman Brett Toth was added to the practice squad in Burks’ place.