Kamu Grugier-Hill goes down with left knee injury; Eagles starting linebacker has been having a solid camp

Eagles middle linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill reportedly suffered a Grade 3 MCL sprain to his left knee after a collision with ballcarrier Jordan Howard during practice in training camp Saturday.

How long he will be out was not known Saturday night.

Coach Doug Pederson would confirm only that Grugier-Hill’s injury was “lower body left side.”

Grugier-Hill, 25, penciled in as the successor to Jordan Hicks, met Howard in the hole and stopped him after a short gain. But Grugier-Hill stayed on the ground, grabbing his left knee before limping to the sideline. There, he quickly boarded a cart and rode to the locker room. A source with knowledge of the situation said Grugier-Hill was awaiting MRI results Saturday evening.

This was just the second full-tackling practice of camp, and scenes like the one that unfolded between Howard and Grugier-Hill are a big reason why hitting is less and less a part of how NFL teams prepare for the season. Linebacker might be the team’s thinnest position. Grugier-Hill, after arriving in 2016 as a special-teams guy, has worked diligently to become a starter.

“He’s really coming into his own,” Pederson said of Grugier-Hill. “He’s obviously getting those first-team reps at linebacker, and he’s a core special teams player for us. Really excited about him and what he brings to our football team ... He’s been good all camp.”

Grugier-Hill and Nigel Bradham are the top returning starters at linebacker. Bradham hasn’t taken part in full team practice yet as he recovers from a foot injury suffered in the playoff loss at New Orleans.

Another question emerged about the Eagles’ linebacking corps Saturday when the team listed Paul Worrilow as “week-to-week.” Worrilow underwent ACL surgery more than a year ago but does not seem to have made a full recovery.

Other injuries updated Saturday were as follows: wide receiver Mack Hollins (hip), day-to-day; cornerback Jalen Mills (foot), still on active PUP; cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc (foot sprain) multiple weeks; and tight end Richard Rodgers (foot) day-to-day. Rodgers’ injury might have led to the signing of free agent tight end Alex Ellis. Undrafted rookie linebacker Joey Alfieri was waived to make room for Ellis.

Rookie running back Miles Sanders, who left Thursday’s workout with a foot injury, was back on the field Saturday.

The Eagles’ only Lincoln Financial Field public practice is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $10 per person, with proceeds going to the Eagles’ Autism Challenge. Parking lots start to open at 2 p.m. -- that’s when you can get into the Citizens Bank Park, M and N lots. It’s 4 p.m. for Lot K, 4:30 for the Wells Fargo lots. Stadium gates open at 5 p.m.

The Eagles’ first two preseason games are against new safety Johnathan Cyprien’s two former teams, Tennessee and Jacksonville.

“I found that out just [Friday], but I’m still focused on the things in front of me, which is that playbook,” Cyprien, who is wearing No. 41, said after his first practice here on Saturday. “There’s no point in circling games on your schedule, especially preseason games, if you don’t know what the heck you’re doing out there on the field.”

By the way, Doug Pederson said Saturday he has not decided whether -- or how much -- quarterback Carson Wentz will play in the preseason opener, Thursday at the Linc.