Danny Watkins may have lost job
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Danny Watkins may have lost job
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Andy Reid said that guard Danny Watkins, who has a chronic ankle injury, would struggle to play Monday against the Saints.
With Watkins questionable, Dennis Kelly could get his second straight start at right guard. Reid said the rookie did a "respectable job" on Sunday against the Falcons. With Watkins' inconsistencies this season, it's fair to question whether he'll retain his starting job even when he returns.
“Yeah, we’ll see," Reid said. "I want to see how he feels once he gets in there [and] we’ll take it from there.”
Kelly said he's up for the challenge.
“Hopefully, if I keep playing at a high level, if they give me the spot, hopefully, I can run with it,” he said.
Kelly, a fifth-round draft pick, was asked if he had been given any indication from coaches that the job was there for the taking.
“Some players have talked about it, just saying, ‘If you’re in there, you’re in there for a reason,’” Kelly said. “Obviously, Danny’s hurt, but there were other options they could have put in. They are telling me to approach it like you can take it, so that’s what I’m doing."
Watkins' chronic ankle came out of the nowhere. Reid said last week that he knew about it as far back as the draft. He said the 2011 first round draft pick re-injured it two weeks ago against the Lions and then again in practice last week.
“He’s got a bit of a component of a high ankle [sprain] and it’s got a bit of a component of a low ankle," Reid said. "Anything that he does lateral hurts him.”
Reid, who was asked if Watkins could be sidelined long-term, said that would assess his progress daily.
"This will pass here," Reid said. "It’s not where it’s going to be career-ending or anything.”
The Watkins' draft pick remains a questionable one. When the Eagles selected him 26th overall, he had only played four years of football after picking it up at the age of 22. He didn't start as a rookie until the fifth game, but seemed to take steps forward by the end of last season.
He's had some low moments this season, especially in pass protection. Watkins hasn't been the only linemen to struggle. The whole unit has been a liability with the injuries to left tackle Jason Peters and center Jason Kelce.
OTHER INJURIES
-- Cullen Jenkins has a hyperextended knee and won't practice on Thursday. The defensive tackle said that he expected to play Monday.
-- Reid said that defensive tackle Mike Patterson would practice with the first team and that there was a chance he could play against the Saints. The Eagles have until Nov. 13 to decided whether to activate Patterson or place him on season-ending Injured Reserve.
-- Wide receiver Mardy Gilyard (hamstring) won't practice either. Reid said that Damaris Johnson, who hasn't dressed the last two weeks, will be active Monday and return punts with Gilyard injured.
sure not Watkins fault Reid took him with Eagles first pick .. what can you expect from a 5th rd talent! This has got to be Reids last year or else .. how many mistakes can one man make and still have a job .. thank goodness he isn't a airline pilot! GO SIXERS!!!!!— bill poore- yes. he is a bust. next question.— AndyKotite
- Let's all repeat after djack10 and make our voices heard: "it seems like everything needed to have reid lose his job is coming together quite nicely." Success!— DiggityWak
- They shold Bomb the whole roster except for McCoy, Foles, D-Jax,Maclin, Fletcher Cox, Vinny Curry, all of 2012 draft picks, Peters, Cole, Ryans, Avant, Cooper, Cullen Jenkins, Havili, Mathis, Herremanns. Then you got a team GREAT to developed even though Todd is already a Vet along with Peters— DeathPenalty94
- Howie Roseman is a GM? He is your football guy? Seriously? The owner has culpability here but only because he trusted Reid and Banner, Roseman. Watkins, Graham (who they traded up to get) may still pan out, but when you have Howie and Andy in place as your football guys it gives one pause.....— jet2012
- As long as they play Vinny Curry, I don't care what else happens. That guy deserves a chance. And I still believe Chad Hall chould have stayed. I know thats Old news but still think he would be making a positive difference right now.— mcghee19
- I'm somewhat of a draftnik, and I don't remember anyone talking about Watkins having a chronic ankle condition before or during the draft. That's the kind of thing that would drop his draft stock. I don't remember him missing any practice the last year and a half because of ankle, either. Sounds like a load of BS to me.— Only in Philly...
- i'm in a quandary, i want the eagles to make the playoffs, but i want reid out of here.— sgamble077
- Boo— Jay Grace 69
- Is Watkins a bust? Ummmm... Have you been watching? The guy should've been fighting fires in NYC, NJ instead of pretending to play football. Not sure who the bigger fool is... Reid or Watkins?— Apollo Creed
An air of arrogance permeates this organization like none other in sports. It's seriously time for change, from the top down. I have no problem with Lurie; my only gripe is that he hasn't fired Reid yet- he's given AR EVERYTHING an owner can be asked of: money, player control, you name it.
— kjuggs77- Reid has tried to be too clever with the draft and he has had some major failures. Why did the Eagles not draft a offensive lineman with one of their two 2nd round picks. Their O-line is awful.— MUADDIB
- Most NFL evaluators say you need to wait several years in order to properly grade and judge a draft pick -- so with that, as an Eagles fan, I'm going to label a player after 18 games -- because I too like to outsmart everyone -- including NFL personnel in front offices. And of course I'm led by our fearless leader Jeff McLane -- who appreciates the good controversy an irresponsible headline with garner.— Murrayman
- This team is so bad right now, that me thinks a contract extension is in order.lol— sammydelphia
- New coach cuts him....will demand more of players...and none of the o-line stays....and Babin the fraud and Coleman the dummy are gone also....and who thinks that when AR surfaces at SD that he takes, Marty, April, Washburn or Mudd.....He will drop them like a rock showing all that he made a mistake in hiring them in the first place...— nuggett
