The Eagles need a healthy Jordan Matthews in the lineup. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews, sidelined since August 5 with a bone bruise to his left knee, expressed confidence on Wednesday that he will be back in plenty of time for the season-opener against Cleveland on Sept. 11.
“I promise I’ll be ready for the first game,” Matthews said. “I don’t like to put percentages on anything, but at the same time, I’m definitely feeling good. I’m doing a lot better. I’m running around, moving, lifting, jumping. I’m back doing pretty much all of that stuff.”
Matthews has missed the first two preseason games and is likely to miss the last two, including Saturday’s game against Indianapolis.
“The coaches want me to be patient because if there ever was a time to be patient, this is it. We’re just being smart with it so that when I go back out there, I can be Jordan,” he said. “I don’t have to go out there and feel my way through. I can go out there and — boom! — let’s go get it.”
Matthews said he expects to return in time to participate in a “pretty good amount of” practices with quarterback Sam Bradford and the rest of the starters.
The 24-year-old Matthews hasn’t missed a regular-season game in his two NFL seasons. Last season he had 85 receptions for 997 yards and eight touchdowns.
–Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has all but said that rookie third-round pick Isaac Seumalo will be the team’s season-opening starting left guard, but veteran Stefen Wisniewski isn’t giving up without a fight.
Wisniewski, who signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason after 77 career starts with Jacksonville and Oakland, will start in place of Seumalo Saturday against Indianapolis after the rookie strained a pec muscle in his chest.
“I definitely think it’s an audition to be the starter,” Wisniewski said. “I think I’ve been playing starter-quality football all camp. The job’s still open. I’d be lying to you if I told you I wouldn’t be disappointed if I’m a backup (when the season opens.”
Pederson said earlier this week that Seumalo “has done nothing not to be the starter.” On Wednesday, after revealing Seumalo’s injury, he said, “I’m not going to let an injury keep Isaac out of the starting rotation.”
–Linebacker Stephen Tulloch, who signed a one-year deal with the Eagles this week, is the fourth player to sign with the team who previously played for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Tulloch spent six of his 10 NFL seasons with Schwartz — three in Tennessee (2006-08) and three in Detroit (2011-13).
“He’s a very experienced player,” Schwartz said. “He’s played at a high level of production. He plays with a lot of spirit. He’s heavy in the run game. He has natural leverage, which is a kind way of saying he’s short. But he’s really powerful. He understands blocking schemes and he has a good understanding of pass games.”
Tulloch will come in as the backup to starting middle linebacker Jordan Hicks.
–WR Josh Huff, a 2014 third-round pick, is on the bubble. The outstanding play in training camp and the preseason of undrafted rookie Paul Turner, along with the recent addition of Dorial Green-Beckham, could make Huff, who has not played particularly well this summer, expendable.
NOTES: CB Aaron Grymes will miss Saturday’s game against Indianapolis with a shoulder sprain. He hurt it making a diving end zone interception against Pittsburgh. … G Isaac Seumalo, who is expected to be the team’s season-opening starting LG, strained a pectoral muscle in his chest and won’t play Saturday against Indianapolis. The Eagles listed him as day to day. … DT Mike Martin, will miss his third straight preseason game with a knee injury.
