Eagles' backup linemen answer the call

ANDREW GARDNER and David Molk were enjoying a lazy, hazy, low-stress day as the lone two active backups on the Eagles' incredibly healthy offensive line Sunday when everything went to hell.

First, seemingly indestructible All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis, who hadn't missed a single snap the previous two seasons, went to the ground with a knee injury when LeSean McCoy fell on the back of his leg.

Gardner, who was signed by the Eagles in March after three seasons as a seldom-used backup for the Houston Texans, was sent in to replace Mathis at left guard.

But only four plays after Gardner buckled his chin strap, right tackle Allen Barbre, who was filling in for suspended right tackle Lane Johnson, injured his ankle.

Gardner was shuffled to right tackle to replace Barbre, and Molk, the backup to center Jason Kelce, was inserted at left guard.

Most of Gardner's practice and preseason game reps had come at tackle, but on the left side, not the right. As for Molk, when asked later how many practice reps he had taken at guard this summer, he said, "Zero. In years past, a handful."

Considering that the Eagles already were trailing, 17-0, very few of their frustrated, cup-half-empty fans believed a comeback was in the cards.

But a funny thing happened on the way to oh-$#@*%-and-one. Gardner and Molk and the rest of the offensive line came out and played very well in the second half as the Eagles put up 34 unanswered points and left the rebuilding Jaguars in their dust.

"They went in and did an outstanding job," offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said of the two backups. "You never anticipate losing a lineman. You don't usually lose two. But David and Andrew did a tremendous job."

Said Molk: "It wasn't just us. It also was our coaching staff figuring out what was going to work and not work. The play calls changed. We did some different things. And we found their weakness. In football, very small adjustments can result in big changes. That's what happened."

Last year, being an offensive line backup for the Eagles was like being the Maytag repairman. None of their five starters missed a start. Collectively, they missed only 90 snaps the entire season.

But now, it's next man up.

Mathis has a sprained MCL in his right knee and was placed on short-term injured reserve yesterday. He won't be eligible to play again until Week 10 (Nov. 10) against Carolina. Hard-luck Barbre, who was making his first start since 2009, was placed on season-ending injured reserve, along with linebacker Najeh Goode (torn pectoral muscle).

Also yesterday, the Eagles signed 33-year-old guard/tackle Wade Smith. Smith, a 16-game starter at left guard for Houston the last four seasons, was released last month by Seattle.

It's too early to guess what the Eagles' offensive line configuration will be Monday night against the Colts. They mighth have Matt Tobin, who was their No. 2 left guard in the preseason, back this week. He missed the Jacksonville game with an ankle injury.

They also have Dennis Kelly, who is the team's most experienced backup, and can play both guard and tackle. Kelly started 10 games as a rookie in 2012, which was the last time Eagles offensive linemen were falling like flies.

One significant benefit to the fast tempo coach Chip Kelly employs during his practices is that the backups get a lot more reps than they would in a practice with a more traditional tempo.

"One thing they do a really good job of here is, the backups get more reps than anywhere else," said Gardner, who should know. The Eagles are the sixth team he's been employed by since being drafted by the Dolphins in 2009.

"We roll so much in practice that we get a lot of work. We felt comfortable in the system. That's your job. Me and Molk were [activated] Sunday. If somebody gets hurt, you got to play."

"We get a ton of reps," said Molk, a 2012 seventh-round pick of the Chargers. "I wish I would've had some at guard, but, hey.

"Getting all those reps, even at a different position, you understand the scheme better and that's really what it's all about. So I can go into a situation and know what's going on with everybody. Mentally, I'm good. I just needed to figure out some angles and leverages and timing and other little things."

Maybe Gardner and Molk will end up playing a lot this season, or maybe Sunday was it for them. It's too soon to say. But even if the Jacksonville game ends up being the only substantial playing time they get this season, they know they played significant roles in a win.

Gardner has kicked around a lot. He was with the Dolphins in '09, but played in only one game, on special teams.

The Dolphins cut him before the start of the 2010 season. He was signed by Baltimore, but was with the Ravens only a week before getting released. Then he signed with Minnesota, who kept him on their practice squad for 6 weeks before cutting him. Then the Bengals signed him to their practice squad.

Released by the Bengals before the '11 season, he signed with Houston, where he spent three seasons, but played in only seven games.

"It's not fun to have to keep moving around," the 6-6, 308-pound Gardner said. "But it was one of those things where what God has planned for you is better than what you have planned for yourself.

"That [2010] year of bouncing around forced me to learn how to play guard as well as tackle. Playing guard was how I made it in Houston. Without that, I wouldn't have been in Houston. And if I hadn't been in Houston, I probably wouldn't be here now."

Molk spent last season out of football after getting released before the season by the Chargers. The University of Michigan product spent the fall helping coach his high school team in Illinois and staying in shape. He signed with the Eagles in January.

"I believed I would go somewhere," said the 6-1, 290-pounder. "It wasn't a matter of am I not good enough to play football anymore. It was a matter of opportunity. I've been treated as an only-center. You don't get picked up as an only-center in the middle of the season. I learned that."

Several teams contacted Molk after the season. But as was the case with Gardner, he felt the Eagles were the right fit.

"The scheme," he said. "Look at Kelce. Kelce is bigger than me, but he's still a smaller guy. This is a place where I can survive."

And, as he proved Sunday, help them win a football game.

On Twitter: @Pdomo

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