Tag: Philadelphia

Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) reacts after a defensive stop against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Eagles CB Avonte Maddox (pec) set for surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox will have surgery this week for a torn pectoral muscle and is potentially out for the season, NFL Network reported Monday.

Maddox, 27, was injured during Thursday night’s win against the Minnesota Vikings.

MRI results and additional medical opinions confirmed that surgery was the best course of action, per the report.

Maddox exited in the second quarter of the 34-28 win against the Vikings with what was initially called a shoulder injury after posting two tackles and forcing a fumble.

Maddox is in his sixth season with the Eagles, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2018. He has recorded 246 tackles, eight forced fumbles and four interceptions in 62 games (37 starts).

–Field Level Media

Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Hurts earns master’s degree from Oklahoma

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As if leading his team to the Super Bowl and signing a massive contract extension weren’t enough, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts decided to add to his stellar year by earning a master’s degree.

Hurts, 24, received his master’s in human relations from Oklahoma on Friday, as a university vice president, Dr. David Surratt, posted to social media.

Hurts started his college football career at Alabama, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and information sciences after only three years. He transferred to Oklahoma in 2019 and began working on his master’s degree.

The 24-year-old Hurts has said in interviews that he was inspired by his mother, who was a special education teacher around the time of his freshman year of college but saw colleagues around her being laid off and decided to be proactive.

“She went back to school, and she got her master’s to become a counselor,” Hurts told Essence in April. “That’s a living testimony for me.”

Earning his master’s degree caps off an eventful first half of 2023 for the Houston native.

In February, Hurts led the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz., where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. The game included a controversial call against the Eagles with less than two minutes left that opened the door for the Chiefs to win, 38-35.

In April, Hurts signed a five-year contract extension worth $255 million, making him the highest paid player in NFL history on a per-year basis.

The Eagles open the season Sept. 10 on the road against the team they beat to win Super Bowl LII, the New England Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Tyree Jackson (80) celebrates with Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew (10) after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles re-sign TE Tyree Jackson, cut S Marquise Blair

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The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed tight end Tyree Jackson and released safety Marquise Blair on Monday.

Jackson, 25, signed his exclusive-rights free agent tender. He had three catches for 22 yards and one touchdown in 14 games (three starts) for Philadelphia during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Blair, 25, signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on Feb. 9. He has 50 tackles and three forced fumbles in 25 games (three starts) with the Seattle Seahawks (2019-21) and Carolina Panthers (2022).

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Jim Leonhard looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Eagles interview ex-Wisconsin coach Jim Leonhard for DC

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The Philadelphia Eagles interviewed former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as they look to fill that same position on head coach Nick Sirianni’s staff, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Leonhard was an NFL defensive back for 10 seasons and retired after the 2014 campaign. Two years later, he was back at his alma mater, Wisconsin, as defensive backs coach and added defensive coordinator to that title in 2017.

Last season, when the Badgers started 2-3, Wisconsin fired longtime coach Paul Chryst and Leonhard took over on an interim basis. After the Badgers went 4-3 under Leonhard, he emerged as a strong candidate for the permanent job but Wisconsin turned to Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell instead.

Leonhard, 40, decided to leave the program after Fickell’s arrival.

In his six seasons as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, Leonhard’s defenses finished in the top five in the nation four times. In 2021, the Badgers were No. 1 in total defense when they allowed an average of 239.1 yards per game.

The Eagles are seeking a replacement for Jonathan Gannon, who was hired last week as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals — a day after the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

Leonard reportedly turned down a chance to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator after the 2020 season, choosing to remain with the Badgers.

–Field Level Media

Jonathan Gannon is introduced as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during a news conference at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Feb. 16, 2023. Nfl New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon

Report: Cardinals to hire Nick Rallis, 29, as DC

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The Arizona Cardinals are set to hire 29-year-old Nick Rallis as their defensive coordinator, NFL Network reported Saturday night.

The move would make Rallis the youngest coordinator in the league. He would join Jonathan Gannon’s staff, marking the first hire of the new head coach. Gannon was introduced on Thursday.

Rallis was Philadelphia’s linebackers coach the past two seasons working with Gannon, then the Eagles’ DC.

Rallis became the youngest full-time positional coach in the NFL when the Eagles hired him in 2021. Before that, he was the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive quality control/assistant linebackers coach from 2018-20.

A native of Edina, Minn., Rallis played linebacker at the University of Minnesota from 2012-16, participating in 26 games and making three starts as a senior.

Rallis then accepted a position as a quality control coach at Wake Forest in 2017.

According to a story Friday on the Cardinals’ website, the team’s search for a defensive coordinator included interest in Chicago Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi (as reported by ESPN) and Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington (as reported by NFL Network).

“With all our coaches (I want) capacity and character,” Gannon said. “I want smart guys that value the players and want to serve the players. That’s their job to maximize the players. I want to be able to start putting that staff together.”

Rallis would replace Vance Joseph, who was released from his contract.

–Field Level Media

Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl-bound Eagles crush QB-challenged 49ers

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Miles Sanders rushed for two touchdowns, Haason Reddick delivered a huge performance and the Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl after posting a 31-7 victory over the visiting San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

Jalen Hurts passed for 121 yards and rushed for a touchdown as the top-seeded Eagles advanced to their first Super Bowl in five years and fourth overall. Boston Scott tacked on a rushing score while Reddick had two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Second-seeded San Francisco was left without firepower after rookie quarterback Brock Purdy injured his right elbow in the first quarter after a blow from Reddick. He later re-entered the game in the third quarter after backup Josh Johnson sustained a concussion.

Purdy was 4-of-4 passing for 23 yards but threw just two short passes after returning despite the 49ers facing a large deficit. Johnson completed 7 of 13 passes for 74 yards and Christian McCaffrey rushed for 84 yards and one score.

Philadelphia outgained San Francisco 269 to 164. The Eagles will face either the Cincinnati Bengals or the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz.

The Eagles drove 66 yards on 11 plays on their first drive with Sanders ending it with a 6-yard scoring run.

On the sixth play after San Francisco took over, Reddick slammed into Purdy’s right arm. The ball slipped out of Purdy’s hand and was knocked up field by his wrist before being recovered by Philadelphia’s Linval Joseph at the Eagles’ 44-yard line.

Johnson took over on San Francisco’s next possession when Purdy determined he couldn’t throw the ball.

The 49ers tied the game in the second quarter when McCaffrey powered his way to a 23-yard touchdown run.

The Eagles regained the lead when Sanders rumbled through a big hole on a 13-yard run with 1:36 left.

On San Francisco’s next possession, Johnson took his eyes off a shotgun snap and dropped the ball, and Reddick recovered at the 49ers’ 30. Three plays later, Scott scored on a 10-yard run to give Philadelphia a 21-7 advantage 16 seconds before halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Johnson threw an incomplete pass and hit his head on the turf after a hit from Philadelphia’s Ndamukong Suh. He exited the game. Purdy finished the drive with a handoff and then returned for San Francisco’s next offensive drive.

The 49ers went three-and-out and punted the ball back to the Eagles. Philadelphia received help from a 15-yard roughing the kicker penalty while driving 91 yards on 15 plays, with Hurts scoring on a 1-yard keeper to make it 28-7 with 43 seconds left in the period.

Jake Elliott added a 31-yard field goal with 5:17 left in the game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Robert Quinn (98) walks off the field after win against the Pittsburgh Steelers Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Eagles placing DE Robert Quinn (knee) on IR

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Robert Quinn will be placed on injured reserve and undergo a knee procedure, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

He will have to miss at least four games, but the NFC East-leading Eagles (11-1) are optimistic that the veteran can return for the playoffs, per the report.

Quinn, 32, was ruled out for last weekend’s win against the Tennessee Titans after being a late addition to the injury report. He reportedly injured the knee during a practice.

He has two tackles, two quarterback hits and no sacks in five games — playing a total of 70 defensive snaps — since arriving in an Oct. 26 trade with the Chicago Bears.

Quinn, who set a Chicago single-season record with 18.5 sacks last season, has notched 102 sacks and 32 forced fumbles in 168 games (142 starts) with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2011-17), Miami Dolphins (2018), Dallas Cowboys (2019), Bears and Eagles.

He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2013, 2014 and 2021).

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, U.S.; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scrambles away from Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Hurts, Cameron Dicker lead Eagles over Cardinals for 5-0 start

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Cameron Dicker kicked a late field goal in his NFL debut as the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles continued their best start since 2004 with a 20-17 victory against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in Glendale, Ariz.

Dicker was signed to the practice squad Tuesday with Jake Elliott sidelined by an ankle injury. His 23-yard field goal put the Eagles (5-0) ahead with 1:45 remaining.

With no timeouts, Kyler Murray drove Arizona to the Philadelphia 25 with 22 seconds left, but Matt Ammendola missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt wide right. Ammendola was making his Cardinals debut, signed this week with Matt Prater dealing with a hip injury.

The Cardinals (2-3) fell to 0-3 at home, where they haven’t won since Oct. 24, 2021.

Jalen Hurts passed for 239 yards and rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles. DeVonta Smith had 10 catches for 87 yards and Dallas Goedert added eight grabs for 95 yards.

Murray passed for 250 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Arizona forged a 17-17 tie on Eno Benjamin’s 11-yard run with 9:43 to play, punctuating a 12-play, 90-yard drive.

Philadelphia answered with a 17-play, 70-yard drive. Goedert’s 16-yard catch on third-and-12 kept the drive alive and Dicker made his second field goal of the game.

The Eagles extended their best start since they won their first seven games in 2004 and went to the Super Bowl.

Philadelphia opened up a 14-0 lead on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by Hurts, his fifth and sixth rushing scores of the season.

Hurts’ first touchdown capped an 11-play, 64-yard drive in the first quarter, and the second one finished off a 16-play, 87-yard march.

The Cardinals got on the board with 5:24 left in the half when Murray tossed a short pass to Marquise Brown, who sidestepped several defenders for a 25-yard TD to make it 14-7.

Following a gutsy fourth-and-4 conversion on a fake punt in its own territory, Arizona pulled within 14-10 on Ammendola’s 20-yard field goal as the halftime clock expired.

The Eagles had the only points of the third quarter on Dicker’s 42-yard field goal for a 17-10 lead.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and tight end Dallas Goedert (88) react as time winds down on a victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles after first 5-0 start since 2004 vs. Cardinals

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The Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) will look to continue their fastest start since 2004 when they visit an inconsistent Arizona Cardinals team on Sunday.

Those Eagles also started 4-0 and made it to 7-0 before going all the way to Super Bowl XXXIX that season, where they lost to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

The Cardinals (2-2) are 0-2 at home and have alternated wins and losses entering Week 5, including last Sunday’s 26-16 victory at the Carolina Panthers.

Philadelphia pounded former quarterback Carson Wentz and the Washington Commanders in Week 3 and rallied to defeat former head coach Doug Pederson and the Jacksonville Jaguars, 29-21, last Sunday.

Another reunion is on tap in Glendale, Ariz., with Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz. Ertz was traded from Philadelphia to Arizona during the 2021 season after playing in 123 games and making three Pro Bowls with the Eagles.

“The team was so close when I was there. I still talk to a lot of those guys,” said Ertz, who has 22 catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Ertz said he is not surprised by the strong start for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, an early MVP candidate with 1,120 passing yards and four touchdown passes plus 205 yards and four more scores on the ground.

“I know Jalen is one of the hardest-working players I’ve ever been around,” Ertz said. “Even though we didn’t play together for a long time, we were able to have fun throwing after practice … just working on our craft together for that short amount of time. And so, I’m not surprised by the success he’s having.”

Cardinals counterpart Kyler Murray leads the NFL through four games in pass completions (113) and attempts (173).

In his only previous start against Philadelphia, Murray completed 27 of 36 passes for 406 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in a 33-26 win at home on Dec. 20, 2020.

Murray is facing a formidable defense that has produced the last three NFC Defensive Players of the Week, with linebacker Haason Reddick the latest after recording two strip-sacks and recovering both fumbles against Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Reddick was a first-round pick by Arizona in 2017 and played his first four seasons with the Cardinals.

“He can play right and left. He can stack. He can do it all,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said of Reddick on Tuesday. “I’m really pleased with where he’s at. But that’s what I mean by the unique skill set. He’s not just a one-trick pony. He can do it all.”

Philadelphia’s last road win against Arizona was in 2001.

Eagles kicker Jake Elliott (ankle), offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (shoulder), cornerback Avonte Maddox (ankle) and linebackers Kyron Johnson (concussion) and Patrick Johnson (concussion) did not practice Wednesday. Guard Isaac Seumalo (ankle) and running back Boston Scott (rib) were listed as limited participants.

Leading receiver Marquise Brown (foot) did not practice Wednesday for the Cardinals. Also out were offensive linemen Rodney Hudson (knee), Justin Pugh (elbow) and Max Garcia (toe), as well as kicker Matt Prater (hip), linebacker Nick Vigil (hamstring) and defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence (hand). Defensive lineman J.J. Watt (calf) and wide receiver A.J. Green (knee) were limited.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) looks for a receiver against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles stay undefeated thanks to five Jaguars turnovers

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The Philadelphia Eagles took advantage of five turnovers by Trevor Lawrence and remained unbeaten with a 29-21 victory Sunday against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Eagles (4-0) scored 29 straight points against the Jaguars (2-2), who have not beaten an NFC team since opening the 2018 season with a victory over the New York Giants.

Before the mistakes piled up, the Jaguars had a 14-0 lead in head coach Doug Pederson’s first game against his old team. Pederson, who led the Eagles to a Super Bowl LII championship, received a warm ovation from the crowd on a wet and windy afternoon.

Miles Sanders ran for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns to lead Philadelphia. Jalen Hurts passed for 204 yards and rushed for a touchdown.

Lawrence lost four fumbles — three of them recovered by Haason Reddick — and threw an interception. He passed for 174 yards and threw two touchdown passes, both to Jamal Agnew.

Andre Cisco intercepted Hurts’ deflected pass and returned it 59 yards for a score to put Jacksonville up 7-0 with 11:15 left in the first quarter.

Lawrence’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Agnew made it 14-0 with 3:50 remaining in the quarter.

The Eagles came back to take a 20-14 halftime lead with touchdown runs by three different players in the second quarter.

After Fletcher Cox recovered Lawrence’s fumble near midfield, Hurts’ 3-yard run put the Eagles on the board.

Sanders’ 10-yard run capped a nine-play, 71-yard drive and made it 14-14 with 3:55 left before halftime.

Another Lawrence fumble led to Kenneth Gainwell’s 10-yard TD run as Philadelphia took its first lead at 20-14.

James Bradberry intercepted Lawrence with 4:17 left in a scoreless third quarter. Jake Elliott capped the ensuing 11-play drive with a 28-yard field goal to make it 23-14 with 13:42 to play.

Three plays later, Reddick sacked, stripped and recovered Lawrence’s third fumble to set up Sanders’ 5-yard TD run with 8:49 left. It was 29-14 after a two-point conversion pass failed.

Lawrence’s 8-yard strike to Agnew with 7:19 to play got the Jags within 29-21.

Lawrence’s final fumble came after the Eagles turned the ball over on downs just after the two-minute warning. Reddick recovered again and Philadelphia ran out the clock.

–Field Level Media