Eagles CB Slay (concussion) ruled out vs. Cardinals
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with a concussion, the team announced.
Slay, who was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, will miss his first game of the season because of the concussion he sustained in Philadelphia’s 24-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints last week. Per the Eagles, Slay joined reserve Grayland Arnold (hamstring) and running back Jason Huntley (illness) in not traveling with the team to Glendale, Ariz.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Slay has recorded 55 tackles in 13 games this season. He has collected 402 tackles, 19 interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 116 career games with the Detroit Lions and Eagles.
The absence of the 29-year-old Slay is a major loss for the Eagles (4-8-1), who are without starting defensive backs Avonte Maddox and Rodney McLeod. The latter two players have knee injuries and were placed on season-ending injured reserve.
“It’s certainly not an ideal situation. But injuries happen in the NFL. Particularly at defensive back. Not only are there muscle pulls but they are generally smaller guys that take a lot of contact and things like that. So we’ve seen that firsthand,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said earlier in the week.
“I think the biggest thing is you have to balance your game plan versus the skill set of the guys that you have. Every player has strengths. Every player has weaknesses. Whether you’re up from the practice squad or you’re a six-time Pro Bowl player, every player has strengths and weaknesses, and you have to balance what you need to do in the game plan versus what your matchups are and what the skill set of the players are.”
On Saturday, the Eagles elevated safety Blake Countess and cornerback Jameson Houston from the practice squad to the active roster.
–Field Level Media