PHILADELPHIA – A lazy Saturday in South Philadelphia was interrupted moments before Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was set to take the podium before practice.
News broke that five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay would need arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome knee which would leave the suddenly struggling 10-3 Eagles shorthanded in the secondary as they try to halt a two-game skid at the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.
Surgery was a success🙏🏾 appreciate the support! Be back soon. #FlyEaglesFly
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) December 16, 2023
Dom DiSandro not allowed on sidelines for Eagles vs. Cowboys game
The good news is that the Eagles don’t plan to place Slay on injured reserve and this is not a season-ending issue for the veteran cornerback. It is a wear-and-tear injury that Slay had been dealing with for a while and really fought through in last week’s 33-13 loss at Dallas.
The internal belief was that Slay, 32, took it as far as he possibly could and the better path forward is getting him as healthy as possible for a potential playoff run.
Sirianni wouldn’t confirm the replacement for Slay against the 6-7 Seahawks but noted he feels his embattled defense has the people in place to persevere.
The shrink wrap could come off rookie fourth-round pick Kelee Ringo but undrafted rookie Eli Ricks and second-year player Josh Jobe could also factor in. Even veteran slot cornerback Bradley Roby kicking outside at times with rookie safety Sydney Brown sliding into the slot is an option. The latter is in play because things are trending in a positive direction for Reed Blankenship, who was forced to leave the Cowboys game with a concussion.
“Got the right guys. Got the right guys,” is all Sirianni would offer when it came to replacing Slay.
The hits kept on coming when the Eagles hit the practice field without two key contributors: quarterback Jalen Hurts and defensive end Josh Sweat.
To turn the Eagles’ offense around, Jalen Hurts needs to address this specific problem.
The good news there is that both are expected back against the Seahawks. Hurts is dealing with an illness and the Eagles want to ensure it doesn’t spread with a long flight to the west coast looming.
Sweat’s absence was described as a personal matter that shouldn’t keep him out of the lineup in the Pacific Northwest.
Finally, starting right guard Cam Jurgens (strained pec) missed his third straight practice of the week and is unlikely to play.
Darius Slay had arthroscopic knee surgery, expects to return by end of season – NBC Sports
Sirianni offered a little more there.
“I like the practice that Tyler [Steen] and Sua [Opeta] have had this week,” he said. “We’ll see on Cam. He’s feeling better every day. He’s doing a good job of rehabbing. Again, like the depth that we have at the offensive line.
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“We’ve seen Jack Driscoll come in at a critical time to play good football. Sua has done well in critical football. We won a big game with Tyler Steen — I think we’ve won with all these guys in the lineup, got the right guys in place and feel good and confident with those guys if Cam can’t go.”
Opeta got the first-team work during individual drills in this week’s only practice open to reporters.
