Eagles CB Ronald Darby not expected to practice next week

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 17: Ronald Darby
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 17: Ronald Darby /
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The return of Ronald Darby may be put on hold for another week.

When the Philadelphia Eagles lost their starting cornerback Ronald Darby in week one, it seemed like the secondary would fall apart. After closing out a huge week six victory with three interceptions on defense, it feels like Darby never left.  Although the Eagles can’t wait to get him back on the field, they are in no rush to put him back out there.

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has been bombarded with questions concerning the return of Darby lately. Normally, his answers are very general and short. On Friday, he decided to give us some more information regarding his status. Pederson did not say whether he was questionable for next Monday against the Washington Redskins or not. He did, however, mention that Darby would not practice next week when the Eagles return from their short break.

The return is on hold… For now.

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Originally, Darby was expected to miss four-to-six weeks when he was diagnosed with a dislocated ankle. It was clear that the Eagles were assuming that he would return closer to the sixth week rather than the fourth. Although he’s been seen walking without a limp, the Eagles are confident enough to hold him out for as long as he needs.

Some good news:

Darby traveled with the team this week, and that was the first time he had done that since week one. That was a clear sign that they are working to get him back into the swing of things. As they begin preparing for next week’s division matchup at home, Darby will most likely take another week off.

The Eagles current situation at cornerback may seem thin on paper, but they have exceeded expectations since the loss of Darby. He is more than likely to get his starting spot back when he returns, but the Eagles will be confident enough to ease him back in.

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The progression of Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas has been nothing short of impressive. With the team’s young guys performing at a high level and improving each week, the Eagles could have a very solid cornerback rotation for when Darby returns. For now, he will make sure he can get back to one-hundred percent as the Eagles continue to dominate the NFC.