The Eagles will be without the services of tight end Grant Calcaterra, guard Cam Jurgens, cornerback Bradley Roby and running back Boston Scott when they oppose the Cowboys Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Jurgens isn’t all the way back from a foot injury that landed him on injured reserve, paving the way for another start by Sua Opeta or rookie third-round pick Tyler Steen, the 6-6, 321-pound wide body who did a solid job when Opeta was banged up last week.
Opeta practiced Friday and is probable for the Cowboys. However Steen towers above Jurgens (6-3, 303) and Opeta (6-4, 305), and the Eagles have been eager to see what he can do.
“He did a great job,” Eagles center Jason Kelce said. “Two-minute situation, not an easy situation to come in, and the underrated part of it is the way we do our silent cadence, he is tapping (the center). So not only is he going in there for his first live reps, but he’s tapping, coming back, trying to block the guy one-on-one, Daron Payne, who’s been a pretty good player in the league for a long time. So, I thought he did great. I don’t think he had one slip-up when he was in there. Getting to a lot of mentally difficult plays like six-man protection, you’re going to block the three-technique, is not that difficult. But physically, he did a lot of great things.”
Calcaterra is in concussion protocol, paving the way for tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to make his debut with the Birds. Calcaterra once retired from football after a series of concussions with Oklahoma, then emerged years later with Baylor.
“We’re cautious with everybody, making sure that they’re doing the right things, because we know the long-term effects of that,” Nick Sirianni said. “But, yeah, obviously with his history we’re going to make sure we go about our business the right way.”
Tight end Jack Stoll is nursing a sore shoulder. Roby will sit out his fourth straight game with a shoulder injury. Scott hasn’t practiced this week due to a personal matter.
If Steen starts, he won’t have any trouble tapping into the drama of an Eagles-Cowboys showdown.
“That’s kind of one of the first things I heard about, like as soon as I stepped in the building,” Steen said. “I heard about the hated rivalry, the tension between the two teams, so that’s exciting.”
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NOTES >> Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith (neck) and guard Chuma Edoga (ankle) are questionable. … The Eagles lead the league with a third down conversion rate of 50 percent this season. The NFL average is 39 percent this season. The Cowboys are 5-0 when allowing less than 50 percent of third down conversions, tied for best in the league. The NFL average is 57.4 percent. … Cowboy quarterbacks have been sacked a dozen times since Week 5, fifth-most in the league. The Eagles have 14 sacks since Week 5, fourth-most.
Source: Berkshire mont
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