Good news for Philadelphia Eagles fans. The team is getting a bunch of injured players back just before the start of the regular season on Sunday.
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, right guard Brandon Brooks, linebacker Nigel Bradham, defensive end Derek Barnett and cornerback Ronald Darby should all be ready for Sunday’s game against Washington after missing the preseason, according to coach Doug Pederson.
”They all practiced (Monday),” Pederson said. ”Looking good. So obviously we haven’t made any official announcements on who is in, who is out, but we’re going to take it day by day. We fully expect those guys to get time on Sunday.”
The line for the team’s home game against the Washington Redskins opened at 8.5 points in the Eagles’ favor, but has since moved up a point. The over/under on the game is at 46 points. The Eagles are 14/1 to win teh Super Bowl.
Washington coach Jay Gruden, who is the 3/1 favorite to be the first coach fired this year, said his offense will be centered around running back Derrius Guice. The second-year rusher is coming of a torn ACL that ended his rookie season.
“We drafted him for a reason,” Gruden told reporters after practice Monday. “We feel like he can be a first-, second- and even a third-down back, if needed. I think the offense, carries wise, will probably go through him, pretty much.”
O’Brien Facing Criticism Over Trades
Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien is on the hot seat this season. He enters his sixth year needing to improve on a 2018 season where they were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
O’Brien is a 12/1 pick to be the first NFL coach fired, and feeling the heat, he has made some moves to make the team stronger immediately. Though O’Brien, who also acts as the team’s general manager, made some questionable personnel decisions. Many believe he gave up too many future draft picks for the players he got in return.
There is no question he beefed up the offensive line. He traded for left tackle Laremy Tunsil to protect quarterback Deshaun Watson, giving Miami first-round draft picks in 2020 and ’21, a second-round pick in ’21. He also got wide receiver Kenny Stills, and shipped off offensive tackle Julie’n Davenport and cornerback Johnson Bademosi.
That deal raised eyebrows, but it was the Jadeveon Clowney deal that really looks like it was botched. The team had to deal the disgruntled Pro Bowl linebacker, but only got linebackers Jacob Martin and Barkevious Mingo, and a 2020 third-round pick.
Still O’Brien defended the trades on Monday to reporters.
“These moves were part of a plan, something that was well thought out, spent a lot of time on it and tried to execute the plan,” O’Brien said. “It’s not just a plan to improve the team for 2019, it’s a plan to improve the roster for years to come, giving us the ability and flexibility to extend our core players while continuing to add and develop talent.”
Elliott Back in States
Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott gave hope to Cowboys fans when it was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that he was on a plane flying back to Texas just in case a deal is done.
Elliott has been in Mexico training, holding out of the preseason in the hopes of getting a contract extension.
Management said that a deal was close, but that there were a few points that needed to be addressed in order to get the deal done.
The Cowboys host the Giants on Sunday and are seven-point favorites. Expect that line to move if Elliott signs a deal.