Eagles rule out defensive starter ahead of important game against Giants

PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles were light at the linebacker position all week, preparing to take on the Giants and their star running back Saquon Barkley. The team will have to rely on two newcomers to start and slow down the Giants rushing attack, hoping to stop their three-game losing streak.

Linebacker Nicholas Morrow, who was listed as questionable heading into the game with an abdominal injury, is officially inactive, having been placed on the list 90 minutes before kickoff. Morrow was on the field before the game, going through a course of tests with trainers before huddling up with them and general manager Howie Roseman before coming to the decision.

The loss of Morrow does not bode well for the defense because of the depth issues at the position. Zach Cunningham is out once again because of a knee injury, meaning the starting linebackers will be Shaq Leonard, who will be playing his third game with the team and undrafted free agent Ben VanSumeren as the team’s starters. The Eagles also elevated Brandon Smith from the practice squad to act as one of the backups.

The Eagles could find themselves playing a lot of “big nickel” to matchup against the Giants skill players, meaning that safety Sydney Brown could find himself lined up as a linebacker and be responsible for a tight end or a back heading to the flat or the area where curl and hook routes are run. Here are the other inactive Eagles players:

CB Darius Slay

QB Tanner McKee (Emergency quarterback)

RB Rashaad Penny

LB Zach Cunningham

LG Landon Dickerson

TE Albert Okwuegbunam

Chris Franklin may be reached at [email protected].