Rodney McLeod, Jaylen Watkins not expected to play versus Giants
According to sources, safeties Rodney McLeod and Jaylen Watkins won’t be in the lineup come Sunday when the Eagles play in their home opener.
The bodies are piling up for the Philadelphia Eagles. Count safeties Rodney McLeod and Jaylen Watkins in that category for the Eagles. A preseason that was void of injury has given way to two regular season games. Both of which have ended with someone of note on the team’s injury list. Last week, versus the Washington Redskins, the Eagles lost kicker Caleb Surgis and cornerback Ronald Darby. In week two, the Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, and they lost two valuable pieces to the team puzzle as well.
An already thin secondary saw McLeod and Watkins limp off with hamstring strains in the first half. It’s hard to imagine a ton of team success, especially in the backed, without these two. Unfortunately, that’s exactly the situation that the Eagles find themselves in. According to the Philadelphia Daily News‘ own Les Bowen, both Watkins and McLeod should miss a few weeks.
Take a look:
My understanding is that the hamstring strains to Rodney McLeod and Jaylen Watkins will sideline them for a few weeks.
— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) September 18, 2017
A word from coach:
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Honestly, we like head coach Doug Pederson‘s diagnosis a little better. During his Monday afternoon press conference, he said they’re “day-to-day” for now. Okay, we all know that isn’t true, but again, it does sound better.
We may not have an exact timetable yet, but one thing’s certain. Neither should play against the New York Giants.
Watkins being a backup makes one think that his absence may not be as devastating as the prospect of the Eagles enduring a significant period of time without McLeod. He’s the team’s starting strong safety.
Next: What’s going on with the Eagles’ offensive line?
His replacement, Corey Graham, has the support of his teammates and coaches. He’ll have to endear himself to fans however following Sunday. He missed a tackle that resulted in a Chiefs score. Still, he figures to get the start. Rookie cornerback Rasul Douglas entered the game when Watkins got injured. He should see significant playing time as well.