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Eagles activate center Jason Kelce from COVID-19/reserve list ahead of Week 18 vs. Cowboys

While Kelce, who has started 121 consecutive regular-season games, will be available Saturday, the Eagles still have a long list of players in COVID-19 protocols.

Eagles center Jason Kelce during their road game against the Jets back on Dec. 5. The veteran was activated from the COVID-19/reserve list Friday, making him available for Saturday night's regular season finale against Dallas.
Eagles center Jason Kelce during their road game against the Jets back on Dec. 5. The veteran was activated from the COVID-19/reserve list Friday, making him available for Saturday night's regular season finale against Dallas.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

The Eagles activated five-time Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday afternoon, making the announcement roughly 32 hours before Saturday’s kickoff versus the Dallas Cowboys.

Kelce is one of 12 Eagles who were placed on COVID list Monday. He is the first of the 12 to be activated.

The other 11 players who remain on the list include running backs Boston Scott and Jordan Howard, tight ends Dallas Goedert and Jack Stoll, guard Nate Herbig, defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, linebackers Genard Avery and Alex Singleton, safeties Marcus Epps and Rodney McLeod, and cornerback Avonte Maddox.

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Kelce’s activation is particularly significant considering Kelce has started 121 consecutive regular-season games, dating back to the 2014 season. He holds the longest current streak of consecutive starts among NFL interior offensive lineman. For perspective, Tampa Bay center Ryan Jensen is next at 80 straight starts.

Kelce’s 121-start streak is the fifth-longest in franchise history, behind safety Randy Logan (124), offensive lineman Jerry Sisemore (127), cornerback Herm Edwards (135), and right tackle Jon Runyan (144).

Coach Nick Sirianni has remained noncommittal on whether he’ll play his starters against the Cowboys. The Eagles have already clinched a playoff spot and they won’t have much to play for in the regular-season finale, although it’s possible they could slide up from the No. 7 to 6 seed.

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“That’s still something that we’re discussing and we’re working through,” Sirianni said. “Everybody is ready to go. Even the guys that are out of the building right now [due to COVID-19] are ready to go because of the preparation that we’ve had by everybody throughout the week.

“That’s still something we’re sorting through. Every situation will be looked at differently. We are very aware that we don’t control our own destiny, as far as the No. 6 or 7 seed. Everybody is being treated as a different scenario.”

With Kelce, 34, now off the reserve/COVID-19 list, there’s a chance he will start Saturday, with an opportunity to extend his streak.