There is a saying in sports that goes something like this…
“It’s not WHO you are playing, it’s WHEN you are playing them.”
http://gty.im/1168583151
That seems to be the case for the Detroit Lions as their Week 3 opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, are dealing with a plethora of injuries.
In fact, so many Eagles’ players are banged up that head coach Doug Pederson has made the extremely rare decision to cancel Wednesday’s practice altogether. Instead, the Eagles will hold a walkthrough.
The change is because the #Eagles have cancelled practice for Wednesday, which I can’t recall ever happening for a Sunday game after a Sunday game.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) September 18, 2019
As noted by Jeff McLane in the tweet shown above, canceling a Wednesday practice for a Sunday game following a Sunday game is not something you see.
Offensively speaking, Eagles’ WRs Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson, TE Dallas Goedert and RB Corey Clement could possibly all miss Sunday’s game against the Lions.
Lions’ defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni talked on Tuesday about how he prepares for an opponent with injuries.
From Detroit Free Press:
“I’ve never, ever, in all the years I’ve done this, gone into a game, unless somebody has had a career-ending injury, gone through the week anticipating the guy was not going to play,” Pasqualoni said in a teleconference with Detroit reporters. “I think if you do that you’re getting yourself in trouble.
“So our focus is on their roster, who potentially is going to play, and those receivers potentially can play. So we’re just going to get ready to play and then if that doesn’t happen we’ll make adjustments as we get into the game.”
What do you think, Nation? Will the Lions take advantage of what looks to be a golden opportunity?
UPDATE: Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Eagles made this decision based on both injuries and the fact they have a Thursday game next week. He notes this is, in fact, something the Eagles have done in the past.
On the #Eagles: Instead of a full-blown practice, they’ll have a walk-through today in part because of injuries and in part because they have a Thursday game next week. They’ve done this some in the past, as well, including late last season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 18, 2019
