Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said on Wednesday that he anticipates having both receiver DeSean Jackson (hamstring) and right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) for the team's Thursday night game against the Giants.
Cornerback Avonte Maddox (ankle) and linebacker Duke Riley (ribs) are also expected to be available to play.
As for receiver Alshon Jeffery, it sounds like he will one again be out — for the seventh-straight game this season — as he continues to recover from foot surgery this offseason.
It will be interesting to see how the Eagles handle the snaps on offense if Jackson and Johnson are indeed back and are able to play on Thursday.
On the offensive line, getting Johnson back means the team can start him at right guard, and avoid putting in second-year player Brett Toth, who was signed by the team last week. The Eagles are likely going to be without rookie Jack Driscoll, who is dealing with an ankle injury. Had Driscoll not been injured, you have to wonder if Johnson would be playing, or if he is taking the field because of how desperate the team is at the position.
As for Jackson's return, Pederson wouldn't comment on how the veteran's return could impact the playing time of young receivers like Travis Fulgham, John Hightower, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside or Quez Watkins. Chances are Jackson will be seeing the field plenty on Thursday night. Those snaps will likely come at the expense of Hightower, not Fulgham, as well as Watkins and Arcega-Whiteside. The Eagles' three top receivers will likely be Fulgham, Jackson and Greg Ward Jr.
Even with Jackson and Johnson back, the Eagles will enter the Thursday night showdown with only four of their projected 11 starters when the season started.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
