Three of the eight injured Eagles had what the team termed “limited participation” in practice Wednesday as preparations began for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
Cornerback Darius Slay (forearm), guard Isaac Seumalo (ankle) and running back Boston Scott (rib) practiced. Their status for the game is unspecified, although getting onto the practice field is a positive move.
Five other injured player did not practice: offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (shoulder), kicker Jake Elliott (right ankle), nickel back Avonte Maddox (ankle), linebacker Patrick Johnson (concussion) and linebacker Kyron Johnson (concussion). Their status for the game also is unspecified.
- “Still hopeful that all these guys can play,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “We’re taking it day-by-day though.
- “But they’re all working their butts off to try to play. Our athletic training room is doing a great job of rehabbing, they’re doing a great job of doing everything they can do to get ready to go, and we’ll see what happens.
- “We’ll be ready if guys can’t go but hopefully they can.”
DILLARD CAN PRACTICE
The Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for offensive lineman Andre Dillard on Wednesday, which means he might be close to playing.
Dillard suffered a non-displaced forearm fracture on Sept. 1 and underwent surgery that week.
The Eagles have 21 days to allow Dillard to practice without counting against the 53-man roster. He can be placed on the active roster at any point, but the Eagles would have to make a corresponding roster move.
- “We’re to a point where we want to get him out there and practice,” Sirianni said. “He’s different than the other guys in the sense of he’s gotta get into football shape.
- “He’s been out of the game for the last month. He’s got to get himself into position where he can be able to play.
- “There’s a little bit more, I don’t want to say unknowns because there’s unknowns with the other guys — but he’s got an extra element, an extra hurdle to be able to clear.”
DRISCOLL STEPS UP
If Dillard were healthy, he likely would have stepped in when Mailata injured his shoulder Sunday against Jacksonville. Jack Driscoll replaced Mailata at left tackle and played 76 of the 82 snaps.
Sirianni was asked about Driscoll’s versatility.
- “High, high intelligence,” Sirianni said. “First of all, you want your guys that can play all the different positions. You want as many guys with as much flexibility as possible.
- “High football IQ because he’s going to have to do that without the amount of reps. So he’s going to have to work, and hard work and toughness.
- “He’s shown that because he doesn’t get a lot of the reps but he’s ready to go at all the different positions. That shows you how high his football IQ is, it shows you how hard he works to do that because that doesn’t just come because he’s smart.
- “He works hard to do that. And what type of teammate and player that he is.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts appreciates Driscoll’s abilities. Driscoll protects Hurts’ blindside.
- “He’s always been a guy that is kinda like a Swiss army knife upfront, playing guard, playing tackle, playing on both sides of the center,” Hurts said Wednesday. “That’s what he is.
- “I have a lot of confidence in Jack and I appreciate the confidence he has in himself. It comes from the work he puts in.”
