PHILADELPHIA — For just the second time since replacing Jason Kelce as the Eagles starting center at the beginning of last season, Cam Jurgens may not be healthy enough to start a game.
The Pro Bowl center left Sunday’s win over Minnesota after just two offensive series with a knee injury and he was replaced by Brett Toth. Jurgens was not on the practice field Wednesday as the Eagles started preparations for their game Sunday against the Giants at Lincoln Financial Field.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown was not on the practice field, but he was spotted on the sidelines talking to team security chief Dom DiSandro.
Three other players injured Sunday — cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, edge rusher Azeez Ojulari and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter — were also out of practice.
As usual, coach Nick Sirianni offered little information about Jurgens’ condition before practice.
“Yeah, we’ll see how it goes,” Sirianni said. “He’s always going to do everything he can do and our trainers, our doctors and our strength staff will do everything they can do to get him back going as soon as possible. We’ll see where we are. You’ll get the injury report later today.”
The last time Jurgens was unable to start during the team’s NFC Championship game against Washington, the Eagles opted to move Landon Dickerson, an outstanding center during his college days at Alabama, from left guard to center.
Tyler Steen, then a backup offensive lineman, replaced Dickerson at left guard.
That, of course, became a remarkable story of its own with Dickerson having to leave with a knee injury at halftime and Jurgens returning to play despite a back injury that required surgery following the season.
Toth admitted after Sunday’s game against the Vikings that he had not taken many reps at center during the practice week. He had been working primarily at left guard where Dickerson has had his own injury issues dating back to training camp.
“You’re constantly trying to think of what the best thing is for the football team,” Sirianni said when asked about the center situation. “So, you know you have options because of the guys that we have there, with Landon, with everybody, you have options there. You want to keep continuity as much as you possibly can, but you also want to give yourself the best opportunity to win. If Cam can’t go, we have a lot of confidence in the guys that would be filling that spot.”
Another option at center is rookie Drew Kendall, who was inactive against the Vikings and has only dressed for one game this season.
“Drew’s a tough kid and very intelligent, very high football IQ,” Sirianni said. “He just keeps getting better.”
The Eagles had two players return to practice Wednesday. The team opened the window for cornerback Jakorian Bennett to return. He had been on injured reserve since Week 3 with a pectoral injury. Backup tight end Grant Calcaterra also returned to the practice field after missing the last two games with an oblique injury.
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