Abiamiri ruptures Achilles, Sapp missing and notes
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Eagles' defensive line suffered a few more losses when defensive ends Victor Abiamiri ruptured his right Achilles tendon and Ricky Sapp left training camp.
Abiamiri ruptures Achilles, Sapp missing and notes
Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Eagles' defensive line suffered a few more losses when defensive ends Victor Abiamiri ruptured his right Achilles tendon and Ricky Sapp left training camp.
Abiamiri was spotted on crutches and wearing a boot over his lower right leg Wednesday. The Eagles have declined to update his condition, but the Achilles injury means that his season is over and possibly his injury-riddled career.
Sapp's absence was unexplained, although the team did confirm that he is no longer with the team. A second-year player, Sapp spent last season on injured reserve. Last year at training camp he left for half of a day only to return.
While the loss of Abiamiri and Sapp gives the Eagles two less defensive ends, they have bigger issues at defensive tackle. It's so bad that Charlie Noonan, an undrafted rookie that was sitting on his couch in Ardmore yesterday, was the starting right defensive tackle during Thursday's practice.
Noonan was thrust onto the first team because the Eagles were without regulars Mike Patterson, Trevor Laws and Antonio Dixon. Patterson suffered a seizure on Wednesday and is still being evaluated by doctors, although he is believed to have a brain condition called arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Laws has a hip flexor injury. And Dixon suffered a knee strain on Thursday.
Cullen Jenkins, signed as a free agent on Saturday, can't practice until Friday.
Down to just a few able defensive tackles, the Eagles signed Noonan and Brandon Collier Wednesday night and had them at practice the following day. After Dixon injured his knee, Noonan joined undrafted rookie Cedric Thornton on the first team.
"I didn't expect that," Noonan said.
Here are some notes from Thursday morning's practice:
-- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie showed his speed and coverage ability this morning. He made up ground on one play to intercept a deep Mike Kafka pass. It looked so easy, Rodgers-Cromartie may have been baiting the throw. Later in one-on-one goal line drills he locked down Riley Cooper. Rodgers-Cromartie is just as tall, and a lot, lot quicker.
-- In pass rush drills defensive ends Juqua Parker and Phillip Hunt dominated guard Danny Watkins and tackle Austin Howard.
-- Asante Samuel also had an interception off of Kafka – and strode into the end zone, playing to the crowd and prancing through the offense.
-- Trent Cole, who knocked the ball out of Michael Vick’s hands earlier this week, knocked the quarterback down today on a pass rush, and got a talking to from Andy Reid. Even Ernie Sims at his most wild knew better than to hit the quarterback.
-- Clay Harbor had a drop in the end zone.
-- Casey Matthews lost track of Brent Celek in a team goal line drill, giving up an easy touchdown. Later he made a diving pass break up.
-- Nate Allen had a nice pass break up against Terrance Turner.
-- Celek got matched up on Colt Anderson in an end-zone one-on-one. Celek has six inches and 61 pounds on the safety. When Anderson tried to jam him, Celek tossed him off for an easy score. On the next go around through, Anderson made a very nice play – sticking his arm between Celek’s hands to break up a fade.
-- Sixth round pick Jason Kelce got some snaps with the first team. It was likely Howard Mudd trying to get a look at the rookie. Jamaal Jackson handled the vast majority of first team snaps. Austin Howard continues to play at right tackle with the first team, over King Dunlap. Mike McGlynn was the second team center.
-- Kurt Coleman had a physical pass break up against Jason Avant, jarring the ball loose in the end zone. Coleman is working with the first team defense right now, ahead of rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett.
-- Thornton got plenty of reps with all the injuries to other DTs, but was drawn offsides at least twice by hard counts.
-- The free agents who signed with the Eagles still can’t practice today – and likely won’t until Friday. The NFL’s CBA won’t be ratified until later today, and the Eagles second practice is set for 2:45. It will be a very light walk through, so there is little the players would get out of the afternoon session anyway. If the CBA is ratified today, as expected, Nnamdi Asomugha, Ronnie Brown, Jason Babin and others will be able to practice for the first time Friday. That group includes defensive tackles Anthony Hargrove and Derek Landri, who might each move right to the top of the roster given the injuries at the position.
I see that Washburn is separating the men from the boys. Bye bye , Ricky Sapp, find another line of work.— drbob1- Hey geniuses, it's "strode", not "strided"!!— Pete H
- Never on the field so how could you miss them? How can anyone be hurt as much as VI? Lord what a wasted pick that was.— tpizza
- I didn't even know Abiamiri was still on the team. Thought they parted ways w/ him last year. Sapp was a reach when they drafted him last year. Not surprised he is gone already.— realzeel
- Hey Wishbone, you may want to check your eyes, it is an achillis which is located on the back of the foot and it hurts like a SOB— tsump
- Real unfortunate about VA. As much as you idiots want to rail on him, think about it if you were in his shoes. Talented athlete who puts all that time and effort in to get to the NFL. Gets drafted pretty high yet can never reach his potential because of injury. They are not self inflicted injuries, which probably makes it all the more frustrating to him. Probably will cost him his dream. Then you get a dolt like Sapp, who's a late round pick who picks up and walks out of camp. Pretty ironic.— beegal99
Comment removed.- Abiamiri will feel better when Marlin goes down. — beerflow
- Bet they wish they hadn't shipped off Bunkley so quick in the midst of their chaotic signing spree.— jmk1512
- nice to know Asante showboats in practice.
did he hold a press conference once he got to the endzone?— ekw555 - Noonan...ah Caddyshack— dmac3792
- Well we are seeing the results of the lockout and the lack of off season training oversight by professional trainers. Players all over the NFL are dropping like flies before any real contact begins. The team that had the best undrafted picks-healthy players after week 3 will have the best shot at the big dance. Every team will be limping into weeks 4-5. When some of the lesser injuries start to heal up the real football season will begin.— unbelieveable!
- I guess so long as you blindside a TE like Sims did to Celek it's OK?— tpizza
- cant cut VA if on IR.— LGbalsac
- jkeough - Abiamiri = McDougle = BUST. I agree completely and have from the start. Trevor Laws is not far behind IMO. I hope I'm wrong. Andy can not draft D-Linemen.
— Ballgame
