Not lost amidst the hoopla and celebration for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday was the fact that they’re now down another starter on defense.
Promising rookie free safety Nate Allen, the team’s second-round draft pick, suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee during the first half of the victory. He will require surgery and is lost for the season.
Allen had been performing well for the young defense, and now he’ll be replaced by Kurt Coleman, a seventh-round draft selection. The Eagles have lost their top two picks in successive weeks as defensive end Brandon Graham went down for the team a week ago with a torn ACL.
The biggest void for the Eagles to fill could remain at middle linebacker where Stewart Bradley is sidelined with a dislocated elbow.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune