December 08, 2017
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 list just one player on their injury report.
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.
Here's the final Friday injury report:
• TE Zach Ertz (concussion): Ertz was a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday, and is still in the concussion protocol. 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 (neck): Najee Goode got Walker's snaps last week against the Seahawks.
• LT Jason Peters: Peters tore his ACL and MCL against the Redskins. The Eagles felt Peters' loss in a significant way for the first time last week against the Seahawks when Halapoulivaati Vaitai struggled against Seahawks DE Frank Clark.
• 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.
• CB Dominique Hatfield (hip): One of the McCoy's must've gotten to him.
• LB Connor Barwin: The former Philadelphia edge rusher and philanthropist may sit this one out against his former team. On the season, Barwin has 25 tackles and 4 sacks.
• WR Robert Woods: Woods has had a breakout season with the Rams, leading the team with 703 receiving yards on 47 catches. He has 4 TDs.
• LB Alec Ogletree: Ogletree is the Rams' other starting linebacker. Like Barron, he is an athletic player with good coverage skills. He has 77 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 INT that he returned for a TD.
• 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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