NFL PLAYER NEWS

Eagles RB Mathews ruled out vs. Packers

The Sports Xchange

November 26, 2016 at 5:34 pm.

Nov 13, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Mathews (24) scores on a 5-yrd touchdown run during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Falcons, 24-15. Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 13, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Mathews (24) scores on a 5-yrd touchdown run during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Falcons, 24-15. Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles ruled out starting running back Ryan Mathews for Monday night’s game against the visiting Green Bay Packers.

Mathews’ absence was expected after he missed practice all week, a result of a MCL sprain sustained in last week’s loss at Seattle.

“It just wasn’t there. … he had a pretty significant knee (injury),” said Eagles coach Doug Pederson. “We just want to make sure that it’s 100 percent before we put him back out on the practice field, but there is a concern that it could linger and maybe — because now we will be coming off a Monday night game into a short week, and we’ll be going back on the road.”

Mathews was coming off his best effort of the season, rushing for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win over Atlanta in Week 10, and had 31 yards on seven carries against the Seahawks before he was hurt.

The Eagles are expected to use a combination of rookie Wendell Smallwood, veteran Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner in the backfield. Sproles broke a rib against Seattle but Pederson said he expects him to play.

“He actually has felt really good the last couple of days, so I don’t see anything that would keep me from not giving him the same amount of work in this game,” said Pederson.

Philadelphia also will be without right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who is dealing with a sprained knee.

Green Bay will be without four players — linebackers Kyler Fackrell (hamstring) and Blake Martinez (knee), guard T.J. Lang (foot) and cornerback Demetri Goodson (knee).

The Packers, riding a four-game losing streak, also listed cornerback Damarious Randall (groin) and linebacker Jake Ryan (ankle) as questionable.

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