• March 19, 2024

Can Eagles Bradford, Peters, Mathews & Hicks Stay Healthy?

Philadelphia Eagles’ Ryan Mathews (24) runs past Carolina Panthers’ Colin Jones (42) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Philadelphia Eagles' Ryan Mathews (24) runs past Carolina Panthers' Colin Jones (42) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Philadelphia Eagles’ Ryan Mathews (24) runs past Carolina Panthers’ Colin Jones (42) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

When you look at this Eagles team, amazingly they have enough talent to be a threat to win the division.  At the same time, I wouldn’t be shocked if they fell apart and wound up in the basement of the division, because so many of their key players either have had or are now developing problems staying healthy.  Chip Kelly says all NFL players get injured and that may be true, but some players are always getting injured, whereas the better players in the league rarely get injured.

We all know about quarterback Sam Bradford’s ability to throw the football and his intelligence.  I couldn’t help but appreciate how well he was spinning the football, while watching him at the Eagles practice yesterday.  Unfortunately, we all know that you can’t fall in love with Sam because of his injury history.  He has suffered through injuries in college and he’s had injury problems throughout his entire NFL career.  He’s got to prove he can stay healthy and play the entire schedule.

The presence of rookie quarterback Carson Wentz on this roster may push Bradford into finally being the quality quarterback everybody thought he would be when he was drafted with the first pick in the draft out of Oklahoma.

Despite the fact that Bradford is talented and has been named the team’s starting quarterback, most Eagles fans don’t expect him to stay healthy through the entire season.  If Bradford goes down early in the season, Chase Daniel will probably step in.  They won’t hand the ball to Wentz that early in the season, but after the halfway point, I expect to see Wentz in the lineup.  I don’t expect Bradford to make it through the season because of his injury history.

At another spot in the Eagles backfield, we see Ryan Mathews, who is a very good running back and everybody around the NFL knows it.  The reason he’s not still in San Diego playing for the team that drafted him in the first round, is his injury history.   The talented young man gets hurt too much.

He has the ability to run inside and outside because he weighs about 230 pounds, but still has 4.5 speed.   Do you remember that touchdown run he had last year against Carolina? Mathews is a combination of a power back and speed back.  Every time he puts his hands on the football, he can take it to the house, but his injury history can’t be overlooked.

No one will be surprised if he gets hurt at any time during the season.  He’s runs hard, breaks tackles and rarely avoids contact, unless he’s in open field.

Another key member of the Birds offense who could go down with an injury at any moment is veteran left tackle Jason Peters.  He’s been looking good at OTA’s.  He’s got amazing quickness for a man his size and he’s probably the strongest player on the Eagles roster.

The Dude is a “Physical Freak”, but can he hold off Father Time.  In my more than 35 years in and around the NFL, once veteran players start getting hurt, it never stops until they retire.  I mean once a veteran player, who was never injured very much throughout his entire career, starts getting injured, it usually never stops.  The player’s body seems to be telling him it’s over. Peters’ body seems to be breaking down on him, but maybe he is such a “Physical Freak”, that the rules don’t apply to him. Father Time has a great record.

If he goes down, then the Birds offensive line will be exposed.  Lane Johnson could move over and play left tackle, but putting Dennis Kelly or Matt Tobin in at right tackle could be a disaster.   After looking at the offensive linemen move around, the rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai or Big V moves better than Kelly or Tobin.  Who knows maybe they will move Allan Barbre from left guard to right tackle.  The Bottomline is that if Peters goes down, the team is going to suffer.

This injury history problem is also something that is attached to second-year middle linebacker Jordan Hicks.  He was amazing in his first season, but as was the case in his college career at Texas, Hicks gets hurt a lot.  He made a game changing interception against the Cowboys last year and took it to the house, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury a few plays later.

The young man is smart.  He’s a very good athlete with tremendous quickness and explosiveness. He and Mychal Kendricks got me excited during a nickel period on Wednesday.  They looked like some leopards going in for the kill during a nickel period, as they broke up passes and ran down plays.

Hicks looks like he could be a special player, but he must stay healthy.  Unfortunately, he’s never been able to stay healthy throughout his entire career.

Hicks is dealing with a minor quadriceps spasm right now, and the thigh injury has him not taking all of the reps at the starting middle linebacker position. It’s not big deal but it makes me wonder whether his body can take the pounding of the NFL.   He’s proven he can play on this level, but can he stay healthy.

So can the Eagles Sam Bradford, Ryan Mathews, Jason Peters and Jordan Hicks stay healthy?

 

GCOBB

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vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
June 9, 2016 11:09 am

“Can Eagles Bradford, Peters, Mathews & Hicks Stay Healthy?”

No.

Its too bad for Matthews. That guy performs almost every game he is healthy. Unfortunately he’s never healthy and cannot be counted on.

Jusy is out on Hicks.

Bradford is a mediocre guy when healthy, and hurt the other half of his time. BTW – what’s with this “intelligence” bit? He admittedly couldn’t handle Kelly’s simpleton playbook, and from all accounts the playbook shrinks when he’s taking reps this spring.

Peters is up against the clock. I find it difficult to see him holding up.

mhenski
mhenski
June 9, 2016 11:17 am

not sounding good for eagles WR

first reports came out that jordan matthews staying in the slot and was struggling outside. now this:

According to the Philly Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, second-year WR Nelson Agholor has continued to not look “special” at offseason practices.
McLane said he thought Jeremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews stood out as potentially special at their early-career practices. He says the same can’t be said for Agholor, who’s dropped two balls on consecutive days at minicamp after turning in a poor rookie campaign. The 20th overall pick in last year’s draft, Agholor may need a big leap in training camp to nail down a starting job.

in other news were young high picks arent getting it done:

Seventh-round CB Jalen Mills has earned more first-team reps at Eagles minicamp than 2015 second-rounder Eric Rowe.
Although it doesn’t necessarily mean much yet, Rowe appears to be struggling in first-year DC Jim Schwartz’s new scheme. Mills has been shining, reportedly logging four pass breakups in Wednesday’s practice alone. A corner-safety-nickel back hybrid at LSU, Mills is a versatile defensive back with some playmaking ability. Eagles cornerback jobs are wide open behind Leodis McKelvin.
Related: Eric Rowe
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Jun 8 – 9:03 PM

paulman
paulman
June 9, 2016 11:44 am
Reply to  mhenski

Good Stuff Henski on Updates…

I believe the Eagles WR Corps will be among the bottom of the NFL in terms of Production and Big Plays.. The Outside WR’s may end up looking like Randle,Givens,TJ Graham where Young WR’s in Huff & Agholor are more likely to work the Slot along with Jordan Matthews.. – Huff/Agholor seem to be the RB Converted to WR’s type and are not really a threat down the field
nor natural at catching the ball as they fitted more of Chip Kelly’s “Horizontal Attack” with Reverses, Bubble Screens, etc,etc..
To Me, Huff and Agholor are the same type of Player/Receiver and 1 of them probably won’t make the Final Roster (probably Huff)
Nelson Agholor was a Bad 1st round Last Draft in 2015

mhenski
mhenski
June 9, 2016 12:06 pm
Reply to  paulman

in qb news. none of them look real gone. per elliot shorr parks bradford won day 1, daniels day 2, and yesterday was awful for all 3 but bradturd performed best. its being said chase and wentz are slinging it all around while bradturd continues the same thing he did last year – all dink and dunks. his longest pass yesterday was a 15 yarder

paulman
paulman
June 9, 2016 12:23 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Eagles Offense will struggle to put 17-20 Points up per Game..
The Defense/Special Teams Units are going to have to help out with some Points or giving the Offense a Short Field
Kicker Parkey will have a Big Year in Terms of FG Attempts

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
June 9, 2016 12:48 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Wentz the guy Howie traded 3 starters ( Murray, Kiko, Maxwell ) and 5 draft picks, number 2 overall pick can’t shine in a competition comparison against Daniel and Bradford. Bwahahahahaha Howie Roseman’s plan is a dud?

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 9, 2016 1:21 pm

over reaction much? um its June 9 and the trade in which you speak is focused on 10-15 years and its a dud on june 9??? brilliant.

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 9, 2016 1:25 pm
Reply to  paulman

Agoloar was a bad pick?

paulman
May 1, 2015 – 7:45 am
Profile photo of paulman
Nice Pick for Eagles

paulman
paulman
June 9, 2016 1:49 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Why don’t you dig out some many Posts of the Players that I preferred the Eagles to Select at #20 during the Run-Up to the Draft, rather than WR Nelson Agholor, who has simply underachieved during his Rookie Season
I liked Players like CB Byron Jones, DT Malcolm Brown, DE Mario Edwards, DB Demarious Randall, OT DJ Humphries or OT Donavan Smith
And now with Chip Kelly and his Horizontal Offensive System out of Town
I don’t think Huff or Agholor are very good fits.. Hopefully they will adjust and improve, but I don’t see very productive or long NFL Career’s from either Player to be honest.. Time will Tell ..
This is another issue and problem when your HC is also the Teams GM like it was for the 2015 Eagles…

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 9, 2016 1:56 pm
Reply to  paulman

paul you like everyone pre-draft thats the point… you are like a guy that spends $100 on lottery tickets, hits for $25 and brags about winning the lottery…

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 9, 2016 1:42 pm

So I just wasted 60 seconds reading tweets from writers, none of whom have ever touched a football and what I gather is that Wentz threw a pick on the goal line on June 7 and the trade was a monumental failure… My wife has been bugging me to embrace the ravens… maybe she’s right.

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 9, 2016 1:55 pm

And finally…not to confuse anyone with facts it WAS NOT a 5 pick for 1– The eagles swapped 1’s– gave them a 3, 4 this year, a 1 next year and a 3 the following… the eagles get back a 4 next year– so for the right to draft second they lost a 3, 4 (got one back) a future 1 and future 3…. thats a net loss of 3 picks.– if you want to cry over getting rid of the bad contracts of murray and maxwell… ok but they were bad contracts.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
June 9, 2016 2:41 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

maybe Wentz will develop in 2016 and win the backup job in 2017 instead of being the backup to the backup position he is penciled in now and for the 2016 season. Heard Howie say he is the backup to the backup, heard Head coach Doug Pederson say he is the backup to the backup and heard OC Frank Reich say he is the backup to the backup. Sounds like this Wentz is on the dud Marcus Smith type career path to me within the Eagle organization.

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 9, 2016 2:46 pm

hmmm obviously.. yeah sounds about right… BTW you never got back to me, so now you don’t want to sign cox to a huge contract? because you mentioned that if he got hurt howie should be fired? take a stand man

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
June 9, 2016 3:22 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

I have no interest in pretending I’m a GM like Cliff.
I will judge Howie on wins and where he finishes in the division. Cox signing is no different than Ertz or Johnson or Curry or Jenkins or Celek or Daniel or whether he signs Bennie Logan. He has 2 crisis right now. His starting QB won’t engage because he doesn’t want to get hurt and his pro bowl DL won’t engage because he doesn’t want to get hurt. ( the highest paid player on offense and the highest paid player on defense)

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 9, 2016 8:41 pm

So you will just sit back and criticize. Ok, here’s the deal, cox and the Eagles are in a hundred million dollar negotiation that you just want to dismiss as ‘sign him’ and then if they do and it doesn’t work out criticize it…

paulman
paulman
June 9, 2016 9:45 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

I offer Fletcher Cox a 4 Year $60 Million Deal, with the first 3 Years totally Guaranteed ($45 Million) . The 4th Year has Salary of $15 Million with a Club Buy-Out Option of $5 Million which basically makes this a $50 Million in Guaranteed $$$ to Fletcher Cox

haveacigar
haveacigar
June 10, 2016 7:23 am
Reply to  paulman

That is a fairly realistic offer– my guess is cox people are going to want that guarantee closer to $60 and they will want to stretch the years so that at the end of the contract they can renegotiate a cap friendly extension…

paulman
paulman
June 9, 2016 4:06 pm

To answer the Above Question of the Article is No, I do not believe
that all 4 Players Listed can Remain Healthy for an Entire Season..
None the Players listed outside of Jason Peters have played a Full Season in quite some Time
Jordan Hicks missed lots of Games while in College at Texas and only really played 1 Full Season as a Longhorn
Ryan Matthews hasn’t played a Full Season since 2013 and has missed 24% of all his eligible Games while in the NFL (has missed 23 Games out of a possible 96 Games in his 6 Seasons)
Sam Bradford has not played a Full 16 Game Schedule since 2012

My guess is that between the 4 Players Listed (Bradford,Peters,Matthews & Hicks) is that 1 to 2 of these Players sustains injuries and misses time..
With a Possible 64 Games between the 4 Players.. I say they will be fortunate to get 55 Games out this Group…
My Over/Under is at 55 Games …

mhenski
mhenski
June 13, 2016 1:53 pm

man lebron just looking like a chump everywhere… klay punked him, curry gave him that u a bitch look, k love said it was disrespectful to step over green… they just raking him over the coals

bugsyhawk
bugsyhawk
June 13, 2016 2:36 pm
Reply to  mhenski

Not sure that Draymond should get any respect from anyone.

mhenski
mhenski
June 13, 2016 3:24 pm
Reply to  bugsyhawk

i dont like dray or the warriors and actually want the cavs to win (wishful thinking) but its undeniable everyone including his own teammate is punking him. although this series has been so strange. lebrons out there getting mugged every play and getting no calls