Allen Barbre moves into injured Vaitai's spot
Eagles right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the Eagles' 26-15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. He is considered "week-to-week," coach Doug Pederson said, which is an indication that Vaitai will miss time.
Eagles right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the Eagles' 26-15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. He is considered "week-to-week," coach Doug Pederson said, which is an indication that Vaitai will miss time.
The Eagles will move left guard Allen Barbre to right tackle in Vaitai's place this week. Stefen Wisniewski will step in at left guard. Isaac Seumalo and Matt Tobin will be the top backups.
Barbre played right tackle during the preseason when news of Lane Johnson's potential suspension first broke. When Johnson was suspended, the Eagles decided to keep Barbre at left guard and insert Vaitai in at right tackle. Vaitai has started every game there since Week 6. Barbre has not started a regular-season game at right tackle since Week 1 in 2014.
Sproles, Mathews could play Monday
The Eagles avoided major injuries to top running backs Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles. Both could be in the lineup Monday against the Green Bay Packers.
Mathews has a right knee injury and is considered "day-to-day." Sproles fractured his seventh rib, an injury not considered serious enough to keep him out of the lineup. The rib is not displaced, and Pederson said "it's actually in a safe area." Sproles will miss practice early in the week.
If Mathews cannot play, Wendell Smallwood would move up the depth chart.
"We'll evaluate Ryan later in the week, but Wendell has done a nice job, and I think if need be, I think Wendell would be OK taking the brunt of the load," Pederson said.
McKelvin's concussion
Cornerback Leodis McKelvin suffered a concussion and is in the league-mandated concussion protocol. The Eagles have an extra day of practice this week because of a Monday night game, and they even thinned their cornerback depth chart on Monday by releasing Aaron Grymes to make room for receiver Paul Turner.
More injuries
Defensive end Connor Barwin has a bone bruise in his leg that will keep him out of practice early in the week but won't keep him from playing Monday, the Eagles say. Safety Malcolm Jenkins is sore with knee bursitis, but he is also on pace to play.
Safety Terrence Brooks is expected to return after missing two games with a hamstring injury.