Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) will battle the defending Super Bowl champion, New England Patriots (8-1), at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon. Even though the game isn’t considered a national television broadcast, most of America will be …
The Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) will battle the defending Super Bowl champion, New England Patriots (8-1), at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon. Even though the game isn’t considered a national television broadcast, most of America will be viewing the Patriots and Eagles on CBS as the late game according to 506 Sports.
Jay Ajayi signs with the Philadelphia Eagles
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With Darren Sproles out for the season and Jordan Howard dealing with a stinger, Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Eagles will sign running back Jay Ajayi.
The #Eagles intend to sign FA RB Jay Ajayi, source said. He worked out this morning and they are deep in talks. The top veteran still available, he’s healthy after an ACL tear and returns to the team that traded for him in 2017. Helps make up for the loss of Darren Sproles.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 15, 2019
The Eagles had Ajayi in for a workout on Friday morning and the move is added depth for a position that was starting to become the strength of the team.
Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson said that Howard sustained his injury late in the Eagles’ 22-14 win over the Chicago Bears on Nov. 3.
Ajayi missed most of the 2018 season, playing just four games for the Eagles before suffering a torn ACL. Ajayi had 592 yards on 105 carries and four touchdowns in 11 games with the Eagles since 2017.
Drew Brees and Michael Thomas will have a huge game and nine other last-minute fantasy football thoughts for Week 11.
As you get ready to make your final lineup decisions for Week 11, here are 10 random and last-minute fantasy football thoughts:
This is not a personal knock against the Philadelphia quarterback. It’s just the reality of the situation as he faces the Patriots. Receiver Alshon Jeffrey may miss the game with an ankle injury, and DeSean Jackson already is out for the season. Wentz won’t have many receiving options. But it probably wouldn’t matter anyway against a New England defense that’s allowed only three touchdown passes and leads the league with 19 interceptions.
As the Philadelphia Eagles defense gets healthy for the first time in months, the Birds offensive personnel are starting to feel the sting of injuries and attrition. On Friday, the Eagles announced that Darren Sproles would miss the remainder of the …
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As the Philadelphia Eagles defense gets healthy for the first time in months, the Birds offensive personnel are starting to feel the sting of injuries and attrition.
On Friday, the Eagles announced that Darren Sproles would miss the remainder of the season with a hip injury.
Head coach Doug Pederson provided an update on several other players as well. Jordan Howard is dealing with a “stinger”, while Alshon Jeffery is unlikely to play with a nagging ankle injury.
Doug Pederson said that Alshon Jeffery, Jordan Howard and Nigel Bradham will be iffy for Sunday. Jeffery and Bradham have yet to practice this week. Will know designation later today. #Eagles
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) November 15, 2019
The Eagles wide receivers on Sunday could be Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews, Mack Hollins, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside. Combined, three of the four players zero catches in the last five games.
At running back, the Eagles could trot out Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and De’Angelo Henderson? Jay Ajayi is back in town for a workout and could be signed on Friday.
As of now, Eagles will not attend Colin Kaepernick’s private workout
The NFL announced this week that they are inviting former 49ers star signal-caller, Colin Kaepernick, to hold a private workout for teams.
Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016 and there have been discussions about just how serious this workout will be. As of Thursday evening, the Eagles had yet to commit to sending a representative to Atlanta for the private workout, according to the NFL.
According to NFL communications, only 11 teams had committed to sending a representative to the workout.
— NFL345 (@NFL345) November 14, 2019
The Eagles are preparing for its Week 11 matchup with the New England Patriots on Sunday and even though the team does have a need for veteran leadership as a backup, they don’t seem interested at this time.
Alshon Jeffery among 3 Eagles players who did not practice
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The Philadelphia Eagles released their Thursday injury report in advance of Sunday’s showdown with the Patriots and Alshon Jeffery missed his second practice in a row.
Thursday Injury Report pic.twitter.com/SrLliwAY1H
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 14, 2019
Darren Sproles was a new addition to the report after Thursday’s practice with a quad injury that sidelined him previously. Nigel Bradham (ankle) missed practice, while Jordan Howard (shoulder) and Jason Peters (knee) remain limited.
If Jeffery can’t go, the Eagles will have Jordan Howard and Nelson Agholor as their No. 1 receivers, with JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Mack Hollins as the other available players on the outside.
Expect Philadelphia to lean on tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.
Jordan Matthews could end up being the Eagles number one receiving option on Sunday when they face the Patriots.
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Jordan Matthews is living the American dream this week, going from being unemployed to the top dawg on an NFL roster. Recently cut by the San Francisco 49ers, Matthews returned to the team that originally drafted him, thinking he’d be an added weapon.
Now with Alshon Jeffery nursing an ankle injury, Matthews could be tossed into the role of No. 1 wide receiver when Stephon Gilmore and the Patriots come into town.
No sign of Alshon Jeffery (ankle) for the second straight practice. Sunday could provide opportunity for rookie JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who has been backing Jeffery up this season.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) November 14, 2019
Alshon Jeffery (ankle) isn’t at practice for the second straight day. #Eagles
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) November 14, 2019
Bad sign for Sunday!!!
Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery is NOT practicing again with Eagles today @6abc #Eagles pic.twitter.com/56PWXfOEGd
— Jeff Skversky 6abc (@JeffSkversky) November 14, 2019
If Jeffery can’t go, Matthews will be called upon even more, while JJ Arcega-Whiteside could finally get an extended opportunity to make plays on the outside as well.
Eagles No. 11 in latest USA Today NFL Power Rankings
The Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to battle the New England Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday and the Birds are feeling good after a refreshing bye week. After two straight victories to move their record to 5-4 on the season, Philadelphia jumped up two spots in the latest USA Today NFL Power Rankings.
Backing the Brinks truck up for a guard often a questionable move … but giving Brandon Brooks a $54 million extension could be a bargain.
The Eagles are using a ton of two-tight end sets with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert and Wentz will likely rely on their versatility while targeting Miles Sanders in the passing game against Dont’a Hightower.
Wentz needs to outplay Brady when the Eagles meet the Patriots
#Eagles Wire discussion: Does Carson Wentz need to outplay Tom Brady in order for the #Eagles to defeat the #Patriots?
— TheEaglesWire (@TheEaglesWire) November 14, 2019
Carson Wentz will have the opportunity to prove that he’s elite on Sunday when he goes head to head with New England Patriots star, Tom Brady for the first time in his career.
“It’s always cool to play a competitor like him, arguably one of the best ever,” Wentz said Wednesday. “Ton of respect for him and what he has done.”
If not for a league-leading amount of drops from his receiving corps, Wentz might be in the discussion for MVP. He’s definitely in the discussion for the NFL’s best quarterback and entered last Week as the second-highest-rated signal-caller in the NFL behind the Seahawks Russell Wilson.
Through nine games this season, Wentz has completed 62.7% of his passes, completing 190 of 303 pass attempts, for 2,060 yards, 15 touchdowns, and four interceptions. The Eagles have been successfully utilizing a heavy dose of Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders over the past few weeks.
A successful running game has always been the remedy for slowing down the Patriots and thus keeping their explosive offense off of the field.
Even with the uptick in explosive plays for the Eagles, Bill Belichick will attempt to take away the Birds beast weapons, and likely put the ball in Carson’s hands. For the Eagles, Sunday could truly be Wentz’s coming out party.
The Eagles should not attend Colin Kaepernick’s private workout
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In the famous term made popular by Ricky Watters, “For who? “For what”?
That could definitely be the motto when discussing whether the Eagles should attend Colin Kaepernick’s personal workout on Saturday. The Eagles are known for doing their due diligence whenever a talented player becomes available and with the news that all 32 NFL teams have been invited to Atlanta to watch the former 49ers star perform, the question has to be asked, will the Eagles send front office personnel and scouts?
Kaepernick, who led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012, hasn’t played a game since becoming a free agent in the offseason of 2017.
If you’re interested in theatrics and good drama, then attending the workout would make sense, even with the Eagles preparing to face the defending Super Bowl champions just hours later in a huge home game.
Adding to the theatrics, Kaepernick is also the same guy that called Malcolm Jenkins a “sellout” and a “neo-colonialist.” Jenkins is an Eagles captain and carries a ton of weight in the locker room.
If you thought Carson Wentz had eyes behind his head and developed acne on his face from dealing with Nick Foles as his backup for those two seasons, just imagine the stress Wentz will deal with when he’s asked about Kaepernick?
Or how will he deal with questions about gadget plays involving the athletic Kaepernick, or critics and pundits calling for his job the first time he struggles. Both quarterbacks have flourished in the RPO focused offensive system, and Kaepernick’s athleticism could make for interesting conversation in regards to how he’d look commanding the Eagles offense.
The Eagles have had previous opportunities to sign Kaepernick and are unlikely to sign him this go around either. Also pertinent to the matter, the quarterback position isn’t currently a need and there’s no guarantee that Kaepernick would be an upgrade over Josh McCown as the backup.
Due diligence on free agents players is always a must, but in this case, the Philadelphia Eagles may choose to pass.
