Cowboys vs Eagles: A defensive key may be missing from Philadelphia’s lineup on Sunday

Taking one last look at the Eagles’ side of things.

Eagles Rule Out Jalen Hurts, But The Bigger Surprise Is On Defense – Ed Kracz, Sports Illustrated

Another star besides the quarterback may be missing for the Eagles on Sunday.

PHILADELPHIA – It was trending this way all week, that Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts would not play in Sunday’s Week 17 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, and it was made official on Friday when the team released its injury report – Hurts is out with a concussion.

As far as surprises go, this wasn’t exactly Christmas morning.

The surprise wasn’t that Kenny Pickett will get his first start as an Eagle, but that linebacker Nakobe Dean is listed as doubtful for Sunday. Perhaps Dean’s health was overlooked a bit in the swirl of attention around Hurts, but the linebacker who was having a Pro Bowl-worthy season is looking like a no-go with an abdomen injury.

Also ruled out for the Eagles were receiver/punt returner Britain Covey (neck) and rookie running back Will Shipley (concussion). Defensive end Bryce Huff is listed as questionable after having his 21-day window to return from injured reserve to active duty opened nearly two weeks ago. Huff was seen in the locker room on Friday with a big cast over his left wrist.

Oren Burks is likely next-man-up at linebacker in place of Dean, and as far as drop-offs go, this is Thelma and Louise driving off a cliff at the end of the 1991 movie. It’s a long way down.

Burks is a veteran, to be sure. He has played in 106 games but has logged just 43 defensive snaps with the Eagles since signing as a free agent from the 49ers on March 17.

Dean has been a force this season. Paired with Zack Baun, the duo has become one of the most productive linebacker corps in the NFL. Dean is second on the team with 128 tackles behind Baun’s total of 144. Dean has three sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

Where did this come from? Zack Baun’s Eagles breakout has the NFL looking for the next him – Jori Epstein, Yahoo! Sports

Other teams are looking to replicate Philadelphia’s success with Zack Baun.

PHILADELPHIA — As the Los Angeles Rams lined up on third-and-3, Zack Baun crept up to the right edge. The Philadelphia Eagles linebacker looked ready to blitz.

But when Matthew Stafford fielded the snap, Baun instead backpedaled. He shuffled out toward receiver Puka Nacua, who would catch nine passes for 117 yards on this late November night.

Nacua would not catch this pass. Because Baun — yes, the same Baun who was just threatening to rush Stafford — broke up the pass.

Where was this guy during his first four pro years, when he played just 15 percent of defensive snaps?

Team and league voices offer different explanations for how the inside linebacker leading the league in tackles and several other metrics played so sparingly throughout his rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints, then exploded onto the scene in his first year in Philadelphia.

Rarely do players cement themselves as starters after four years unable to crack the lineup.

Questioning the Saints is fair — and some do, one NFC executive going so far as to call it “negligent” to play Baun so sparingly when “he had All-Pro in his body.” But Baun’s resurgence isn’t just about the Saints’ depth chart or the Eagles’ success mining for traits independent of production. This isn’t just about Baun finally getting the opportunity to play 95% of defensive snaps.

Baun’s progress toward realizing his potential stems from his work ethic and ability as well as landing in the right scheme with the right coaching staff. It stems from the block-destruction guidance from a linebackers coach whose eye he caught during their pandemic-shortened pre-draft meeting in March 2020, and from a front office sharp enough to pursue an unproven linebacker as early in free agency as it pursued star running back Saquon Barkley.

Zach Ertz downplays postgame exchange with Eagles’ Nick Sirianni: It was ‘blown way out of proportion’ – Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports

Their appears to be no bad blood between the Eagles’ coach and his former tight end.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz needed to be separated after an altercation following their Week 16 matchup last Sunday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Ertz has since downplayed the exchange, saying reports of the interaction have been “way overblown” and suggesting he has a good relationship with his former coach.

“Nick and I had a great relationship when I was there,” Ertz told reporters Thursday, “and we still have a great relationship. It’s definitely been blown way out of proportion. We spoke. We’re good. There’s no ill feelings on my part, and I don’t think there are any ill feelings on his part. It’s just something in the heat of the moment that probably got blown out of proportion and maybe [was] a misunderstanding. But him and I are fine. Everyone knows how I feel about that place and that building.”

After Washington pulled out a 36-33 victory over the Eagles on Sunday, Sirianni and Ertz reportedly got into a spat during postgame handshakes. Ertz went to initially shake Sirianni’s hand but, upon realizing the coach was still irked by his team losing, opted for a high-five. Sirianni apparently took exception to Ertz’s gesture, which led the head coach to chastise him for having just a single catch in the game.

That’s when Ertz reportedly got in Sirianni’s face, which prompted action from chief security officer Dom DiSandro (better known as “Big Dom”). The Inquirer reported also that Sirianni later called Ertz via Zoom to apologize. However, after the game, he was asked about the exchange and said, “We just say congrats … [Both] of us say congrats to each other.”

As for Ertz, he told the Inquirer postgame, “I’ll let him comment on what was said. To me, we just exchanged holiday pleasantries and kept it moving.”

Ertz, 34, spent the bulk of his NFL career (2013-2021) with the Eagles and currently ranks second on the franchise’s all-time receptions list. He also was on the team’s Super Bowl LII championship team in 2017, so while he may be playing for a division rival, he is a well-revered player for Sirianni’s franchise, making the ordeal even more noteworthy.