Eagles Lose Starter for Remainder of Season
The hits just keep coming for the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The latest casualty is starting defensive end Derek Barnett, who will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Eagles’ DE Derek Barnett is undergoing shoulder surgery and is now out for the season, per source. The former first-round pick recorded 2.5 sacks and 17 tackles this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2018
Barnett, 22, injured his shoulder in the Eagles’ 26-23 loss to the Titans on Sept. 30. He missed the next game against the Vikings, but then played the last two weeks against the Giants and Panthers.
But after the Panthers game, it was determined that Barnett needs rotator cuff surgery on his shoulder.
Notable Eagles on IR, PUP, or NFI:
1) RB Jay Ajayi (IR)
2) S Rodney McLeod (IR)
3) DT Timmy Jernigan (NFI)
4) WR Mike Wallace (IR)
5) WR Mack Hollins (IR)
6) ST Chris Maragos (PUP)
7) TE Richard Rodgers (IR)
8) DE Derek Barnett (Likely soon to be on IR)— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) October 23, 2018
Barnett had 2.5 sacks and 17 tackles in six games this season.
He was the 14th overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Tennessee. In his rookie season he had 5 sacks and 18 tackles. Barnett broke NFL Hall-of-Famer Reggie White’s career sack record at Tennessee.
The wheels are coming off https://t.co/bLVLAR0LdP #Eagles
— Gary Potosky (@InqPotosky) October 23, 2018
Barnett made a huge play in the Eagles 41-33 win over the Patriots in last season’s Super Bowl. He scooped up the Tom Brady fumble caused by Brandon Graham in the fourth quarter that essentially sealed the win for Philly.
The Eagles are expected to start Michael Bennett at right defensive end, but the team will have considerably less depth on the defensive line with Haloti Ngata, Tim Jernigan, and Barnett out.
A major blow for the Eagles as they lose another key member of the team for the season.https://t.co/bf2hi9Qevu
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 23, 2018
They will have to rely more heavily on Treyvon Hester, who came up from the practice squad on Oct. 2, and Bruce Hector, an undrafted rookie.
Discussing other Eagles injuries Tuesday, before Barnett’s status became public, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said the team would take what comes.
“It’s what you have,” he said, according to Philly.com. “I don’t want to say it’s like drawing cards, but you play poker, you get the cards that you get. You can’t turn all five of them in. You’ve got to play your hand.”
The Eagles blew a 17-0 fourth quarter lead on Sunday and lost to the Panthers 21-17 to fall to 3-4 in the wide open NFC East.
The Redskins lead the division at 4-2 with Dallas and Philadelphia tied at 3-4. The Giants are 1-6.
The Eagles play a reeling Jacksonville Jaguars team on Sunday in London in a game they need to win to keep pace with Washington, who plays the Giants.
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