December 10, 2017
As we noted on Friday, ever since they lost Jason Peters and Jordan Hicks for the season in their second matchup against the Washington Redskins more than a month ago, the Philadelphia Eagles have had better luck with injuries. This week, they listed just two players on their injury report.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams have had excellent injury luck for most of the season, as their injured reserve list is light on notable players, though they have a handful of starters listed on their injury report for this game.
The Eagles and Rams have announced their inactives:
• TE Zach Ertz: The Eagles were without Ertz earlier this season against the Denver Broncos, though his absence wasn't felt, as the Eagles scored more than 50 points that afternoon. However, in a huge NFC matchup against the 9-3 Rams, the Eagles can use all the weapons they can get, and Ertz has been Carson Wentz's most reliable target.
• LB Joe Walker: Najee Goode got Walker's snaps last week against the Seahawks.
• RB Wendell Smallwood: Smallwood was inactive the last three weeks against the Bears, Cowboys, and Seahawks. He is the fifth running back in the pecking order.
• QB Nate Sudfeld: The Eagles promoted Sudfeld to the active 53-man roster from the practice squad, but he'll be inactive for the rest of the season, barring injury.
• OT Will Beatty: Beatty was a few weeks ago after not having played for months. He'll need time to get back into football shape.
• WR Marcus Johnson: Shelton Gibson is up again in favor of Johnson, like he was the last two weeks.
• DT Elijah Qualls: Qualls is the fifth DT.
• LT Jason Peters: Peters tore his ACL and MCL against the Redskins. While the Eagles certainly miss Peters, his loss has not devastated the team so far, as they have gotten competent play from Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
• LB Jordan Hicks: Hicks wasn't off to his best season this year when he went down with a ruptured Achilles. Still, it's a big loss for the Eagles' defense, though the Eagles have more than adapted.
• RB Darren Sproles: Sproles is done for the season with a torn ACL. On the field, Sproles was the Eagles' most well-rounded running back, as he can run inside, run outside, be a weapon in the passing game, and he's easily the team's best back in pass protection. Obviously, because of his small size, however, Sproles has been never been used as a 'workhorse' type of back, but he was typically on the field in the Eagles' most crucial situations. He was also the team's primary punt returner.
The Eagles' acquisition of Ajayi signals a change in running styles from the small elusive group the Eagles had back in May, to the bruising combo of Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount that they now have.
• CB Sidney Jones: Jones remains on the NFI list. If and when the Eagles activate him, Jones will be allowed to practice for three weeks before the Eagles will have to decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster or shut him down for the season. The Eagles still have time to decide to take him off the NFI list before his three-week practice period.
• K Caleb Sturgis: Sturgis was placed on IR with a quad injury suffered Week 1 against the Redskins. He was replaced by Jake Elliott.
• S Chris Maragos: Maragos suffered a knee injury against the Panthers, and was placed on IR. He was the Eagles' best player on their kick coverage unit on special teams and served as the Eagles' special teams captain.
• DT Dominique Easley: Easley was a former first-round pick of the Patriots who had a nice 2016 season as a rotational defensive lineman for the Rams, when he had 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
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