PLAYER NOTES
–LT Jason Peters will apparently play after all on Sunday despite tearing a biceps muscle in last Thursday’s win over the New York Giants. Peters has also struggled most of the year with a quad injury. The team, however, remains confident that Peters is still the same Pro Bowl player that he has been in the past. “He definitely can play, no concern with injuring him any further or anything like that,” said Eagles head coach Doug Pederson. “But all the confidence in the world with him, and he’ll be ready to go.”
–DT Treyvon Hester, who was signed from the practice squad in Week 5, will probably see more playing time after DT Destiny Vaeao was waived with an undisclosed injury. “He’s a big part (of the puzzle),” head coach Doug Pederson said of Hester. “Obviously we brought him in to do that and to fill a role, fill a need, and we’ll continue to progress with him each and every week.”
–CB Dexter McDougle was signed by the Eagles Wednesday (Oct. 17). His contract was terminated by the Lions on Aug. 31. McDougle, who played in eight games with the Eagles last year, could get some snaps in the slot when the Eagles shift into their nickel defense. “McDougle I think, one, comes in and he was a role-player or situational guy for us,” said head coach Doug Pederson. “He’s got to get caught up obviously with the game plan and terminology again. The one thing that I guess from his side and our side is we have familiarity. He was with us in camp and things of that nature a year ago. We are comfortable with him filling a need, filling a role right now. We’ll get him coached up and ready to go.”
–CB Sidney Jones isn’t likely to play on Sunday because of a hamstring injury suffered in last week’s game against the Giants.
–S Corey Graham could miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury.
–RB Darren Sproles, who said earlier this year that this would be his final season, continues to struggle to overcome a hamstring injury. He has played in only one game, and that was the season opener. He may not return until after the team’s bye on Nov. 4.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: C Jason Kelce. The center played in his 100th career game (all starts) last Thursday night, joining Chuck Bednarik (169 from 1949-62) and Guy Morriss (158, 1973-83), and David Alexander (124, 1987-94) as the only Eagles centers to play in 100-plus regular-season games. Kelce has not missed a game since Week 9 of 2014 and has started 63 consecutive regular-season games, which is the second-longest active streak by an NFL center with one team, trailing only Tennessee’s Ben Jones (69 starts).
GAME PLAN: The offense seems to be rounding into shape, with the Eagles eclipsing 23 points for the first time last week. That could have to do with the fact that players such as quarterback Carson Wentz and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery are getting healthy and the lineup has more of a sense of continuity to it.
“We know who our guys are now, who’s going to be in there and in what situation we are going to be in,” said running back Wendell Smallwood. “Everyone is on the same page. I think when you have guys shuffling in and out, some guys miss it, some guys don’t, some guys get it, some guys don’t get it, but when it’s that same camaraderie and play as one, it’s better and has been successful for us.”
Putting up points against the Carolina defense will be a challenge, though. The Panthers have allowed an average of 22.8 points in their five games. Converting on third down will be key for the Eagles. They are ranked 15th in the league in third-down success, but that number went up last week after they converted nine of 16 (56 percent).
Wentz is fourth in the league in third-down passing. Last week, he went 14-for-15 on third down for 168 yards and two touchdowns and is now fourth in the league in converting third downs, with a passer rating of 109.3.
“They’re a fast defense,” said Wentz. “They have two of the best linebackers in the league. They got Thomas Davis back last week and he’s all over the field. Everyone knows the matchup problems Luke Kuechly brings and what he does. And they have a big physical front. We have a lot of respect for those guys and we’ll have our work cut out for Sunday.”
Defensively, the Eagles will need to prevent the Panthers from keeping alive drives. The Eagles are the third-ranked team in the league in third efficiency. Of course, they must prevent Cam Newton from doing much damage on the ground, too. He is the team’s second-leading rusher, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
QUOTES TO NOTE: “He’s one of the premiere middle linebackers in the league, and not only is he supremely talented, but he gets everybody aligned and gets them going in the right direction.” — Offensive coordinator Mike Groh about Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly. “He poses a significant challenge.”
“They are a very good football team” said Panthers coach Ron Rivera. “I really like their quarterback. I think Carson Wentz is one of the true up and coming stars in this league.”
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Panthers LBs Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis vs. Eagles RBs and TEs. Running backs and tight ends are a big part of the Eagles’ offense. TE Zach Ertz leads the Eagles in receiving with 48 catches for 480 yards and rookie TE Dallas Goedert is fourth (13-113). RBs Corey Clement (11-100) and Wendell Smallwood (11-96) are fifth and sixth, respectively.
–Eagles LT Jason Peters vs. Panthers Mario Addison. Peters is banged up and showing his age. He got beaten a few times by the Giants’ Olivier Vernon last week and now lines up against the Panthers sack leader in Addison, who has 3.5 this season.
