Where art thou, great Eagles offensive linemen?
After years of representing the NFL’s blocking gold standard, the Eagles enter Sunday’s matchup against the Giants without the retired Lane Johnson and the traded Cam Jurgens.
The starting offensive linemen around stalwarts left tackle Jordan Mailata and left guard Landon Dickerson are Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen and Markel Bell (center to right).
“Before Lane Johnson had a name, before Jason Kelce had a name, before Cam Jurgens had a name, they had to go earn it,” defensive tackle Shelby Harris said. “You can’t put down anybody just because they haven’t established themselves in the league.
“The idea is you don’t want them to establish themselves against you. They’re still physical, they’re humungous size-wise across the board, so it’s just go out there and don’t let them be the determining factor of the game.”
The Eagles stunningly rank No. 27 in rushing yards per game, and a hobbled Saquon Barkley hasn’t had more than 83 in any game this season.
“I’m expecting [Barkley] to be healthier than he has been so far,” Harris said. “They’ve done a good job trying to manage him on his way back from injury. If he’s going to play, I expect to get the best out of him — full-on star Saquon Barkley. And we’ll have to stop him in order to be successful.”
WR Malik Nabers (knee) did not practice.
Edge Abdul Carter (illness) practiced in full after missing two days earlier this week.
DT Darius Alexander (foot) was a new limited participant, joining RT Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), KR/PR Charlie Jones (hand) and LT Andrew Thomas (groin).
OLB Malik Harrison (groin) and CB Colton Hood (illness) were upgraded to full participants.
Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy employed Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in that same role during Nagy’s first year as Bears head coach (2018).
“What [Fangio] does is some of the best ever in the history of this game as a defensive coordinator,” Nagy said. “He’s always adapting his defense. He understands what the weaknesses are of the offense. And so, he’s going to bring some changes at times and some unscouted look.”
Third-string QB Jake Haener was cut after Thursday’s practice.
Haener was the No. 2 quarterback between Jaxson Dart’s injury and the acquisition of J.J. McCarthy.
Haener could return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
When he was in the doghouse last year, CB Deonte Banks carved out a role as a kick returner and had a touchdown.
With Tyrone Tracy Jr. out, could Banks return kicks again, or is he too valuable now as a lockdown cornerback?
“It’s a possibility,” special teams coordinator Chris Horton said. “If that gives us the best opportunity to win a football game, we’re talking about one rep where we can go out there and have the most success. So I don’t think anything’s off the table.”
