Tanner McKee will be the Eagles’ emergency quarterback and Philly Pickett will be the team’s backup quarterback for Sunday’s first-round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field.
Pickett was battling a rib injury that had sidelined him early in the second half of the Eagles’ Week 17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, raising doubts about that alignment during practice week. McKee began the regular-season finale against the Giants after taking Pickett’s spot in the game against the Cowboys.
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When Pickett replaced starter Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter of a Week 16 loss against Washington, he initially suffered the rib injury.Hurts made his first appearance on the field since sustaining a concussion against the Commanders in the first quarter, and if something happened to him, Pickett and McKee may both play.
Against the Packers, the Eagles will be without cornerback Eli Ricks, safety Lewis Cine, receiver Ainias Smith, offensive lineman Nick Gates, Trevor Keegan, and Darian Kinnard. After being promoted from the practice squad on Saturday, Parris Campbell was given the no over on Smith.
Brett Toth, an offensive lineman who was added to the active roster over the week, will don his first uniform this year.
Over the course of a 17-game, 18-week season, the Eagles accomplished a remarkable achievement by starting all 22 players who started on opening night against the Green Bay Packers alive and able to play when they entered their playoff game on Sunday.
The Eagles are the healthier team going into the game, but that doesn’t mean all 22 players were healthy for the playoff rematch against the Packers.
Compared to opening day, the Eagles do have a number of different starters currently. For example, Cooper DeJean has taken Avonte Maddox’s place as the starting slot cornerback, and Nolan Smith has taken Bryce Huff’s place as the starting edge rusher.
Three of the Packers’ players who started on opening night in Brazil are out. On that list are cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed the entire season due to a knee injury that necessitated surgery, and wide receiver Christian Watson, who was sidelined in Week 18 due to a season-ending ACL injury. In November, the Packers also dealt their defensive end starter on opening day, Preston Smith, to the Steelers.
Of the 47 players who played on opening night, 43 were available to play on Sunday for the Eagles. The exceptions were linebacker Patrick Johnson, fullback/linebacker Ben VanSumeren, punt returner/wide receiver Britain Covey, and edge rusher Brandon Graham. After being waived in mid-September, Johnson signed with the Giants, while Graham, Covey, and VanSumeren were sidelined by injuries.
Watson, safety Zayne Anderson, offensive tackle Andre Dillard, and tight end Ben Sims are all out for the Packers’ game, while Sean Clifford is listed as the backup quarterback.
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The email address of Bob Brookover is [email protected].