Eagles are already dealing with a few substantial injuries on defense

On Monday, reporters were finally able to access the NovaCare complex and observe the practice for training camps for the first time in this early COVID shortened offseason. The players have meanwhile been back to the facility that has been working out since last month, but the only updates we have received from these practices have come from the players themselves.

And while they were happy to tell us about DeSean Jackson’s explosions or the speed of Miles Sanders, they failed to mention the fact that a few starters have already suffered injuries that kept them off the field Monday. Of course, that is to be expected, but once reporters appeared this week, there was no more hiding and the Eagles announced the following injuries, just as the players took the field for practice.

Javon Hargrave

The purchase of the free agent’s award (and probably the biggest addition of the entire season apart from Darius Slay and perhaps Jalen Reagor) will be several weeks out with the Eagles calling an injury “upper body”. Part of the treatment with the league regarding their COVID-19 compliance was that description of injuries would be much more vague and would take the form of what we expected from ice hockey. Other than that, we do not know much about the big defensive tackle that a three-year, $ 39 million contract signed this offseason.

The good news is that the Eagles still have Fletcher Cox and (a healthy) Malik Jackson in the pencil to start in the middle of the defensive line, but with how much Jim Schwartz likes to turn his lines, it is expected that the former Steeler gets a lot of burns from burning in 2020.

It is not known how long he was injured, what his injury is, or when he would return, but the indication “multiple weeks” makes it seem like it may be difficult for him to return to the speed by the time the Eagles visit Washington for the Week 1 matchup. That’s less than four weeks away at this point, and he should probably still get on the speed in his new defense after a summer of off- fieldwork that only recently moved onto the field.

UPDATE [12:44 p.m.] – On Monday afternoon, Hargrave tweets the following, which is certainly cryptic, but also does not look like the kind of thing you will tweet if you have a minor injury.

While Doug Pederson spoke before the practice and was therefore not asked about Hargrave’s injury, Fletcher Cox was asked about it during his media session after the practice.

That is the ultimate non-response, but any vagueness surrounding this injury is probably not a good sign.

Derek Barnett

Let’s stay on the defensive line with Derek Barnett. Barnett is referred to as week-to-week with a lower body injury, but again, that’s pretty much all we know. The 24-year-old defensive end is scheduled to start against Brandon Graham, and with a few weeks left before the season starts, there’s a chance the Eagles will just play safe with Barnett. He knows the system and the player he will be placed next to, so there is no great urgency to run him off the field.

If you know how cautious this season already is and how deep the key will be to the success of each team in 2020, it would not be very surprising if they allow him to rest with an eye on him back in time to have a short ramp-up period before the opening. Still, the sooner he’s back on the field, the better it’s for the whole defense.

Jason Peters and JJ Arcega-Whiteside

The news on the offensive side of the ball was not so bad, as both Peters and JJAW on the day are indicated with injuries to lower body. On a more positive note, both were seen on the sidelines Monday in shorts and jerseys (no pads) for the early part of the practice. It does not seem like there is any major cause for concern here.

However, when it comes to Peters, fans may be accustomed to getting him regular days off at the practice to keep the 38-year-old future Hall of Fame lineman fresh. But this offseason, he changes positions for the first time since moving from tight end to offensive tackle early in his career. There is no doubt that he can pick up the slight difference to play another position on the opposite side of the line, but the more work on the field he can get, the better. Of course, his health must come first.

Duke Riley

The Eagles linebacker is out with an illness but has not been added to the COVID-19 reserve list, so that’s pretty much all we know for now. It can be a very different disease, but it’s worth checking out regardless as the team prepares for the season.

Alshon Jeffery

This is not a new injury if anything, but head coach Doug Pederson delivered an update on Alshon Jeffery on Monday, as the widow continued working on foot surgery last year.

“IN“She’s doing extremely well,” Pederson said. Sure, as you know, there is no timetable for him. We’re just trying to make sure he’s 100 percent before we put him back in action. But he’s doing extremely well, and he’s progressing well where we want him to be at this particular moment, and he’s moving in the right direction. “

When he returns to the field remains unknown, but with the Eagles still very thin, the sooner the better.

Andre Dillard

It also appears Andre Dillard fell down with an unknown injury.

I’m sure Pederson will be asked about his status (like all the other players mentioned above) the next time he talks to reporters.

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