Roster move tells us something about Celek's back; Jackson gets another honor
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Roster move tells us something about Celek's back; Jackson gets another honor
Bob Brookover
Sometimes you can figure out who's healthy and who's not so healthy based on a roster move.
Case in point, the Eagles signed tight end Martin Rucker off the practice squad today and released running back P.J. Hill.
Here's what that tells us: The team has some real concerns about tight end Brent Celek's sore back and wide receiver Kevin Curtis is likely to play Sunday for the first time since the second game of the season Sunday against San Francisco. If Curtis wasn't ready, the Eagles would have likely added Jordan Norwood from the practice squad, too.
Coach Andy Reid first revealed Celek's back injury during his Monday news conference, but the tight end left Giants Stadium Sunday night with the sort of neck contraption you see people wear when they're trying to sleep on an airplane. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said later Monday that he wasn't sure Celek would even be able to play against the Giants before the game. Celek, of course, did play and he played well, catching four passes for 64 yards, including the game's first touchdown on an 8-yard screen pass that was mostly ability his unwillingness to be taken down.
The Eagles have gone all season without a third tight end, but with Celek hurting they apparently feel the need to add Rucker, who was a fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns before last season. Rucker, 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, caught two passes for 17 yards in five games with the Browns last season, but was waived by first-year Cleveland coach Eric Mangini early this season. The Eagles added the former Missouri tight end to their practice squad Sept. 24. Rucker is the brother of former Carolina Panthers defensive end Mike Rucker.
Hill had been with the Eagles since Oct. 28 after being signed off the New Orleans' Saints practice practice squad. He dressed for the Eagles' Nov. 1 game at home against the Giants, then was inactive the last six games.
Curtis, who last played in the Eagles' Week 2 loss to the Saints, practiced last week and appears ready to return from a left knee injury that required surgery in late October.
Jackson ST player of the week
Eagles second-year receiver DeSean Jackson was named the NFC special teams player of the week, thanks to his 72-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Giants.
It was the second time this season Jackson was named the NFC special teams player of the week. He also won the award after returning a punt for a touchdown against Carolina on opening day. He was also the special teams player of the month for September and the NFC offensive player of the week after scoring on a 57-yard pass and a 67-yard run during an Oct. 26 win at Washington.
Hopefully Ingram comes back healthy next year. Be nice to have both Celek and Ingram.— birdp00p- i like where your head is at birdp00p— L Bears
- OMG! there could be a Kevin Curtis siting! He may actually get on the field but he will probably get hurt while warming up. Get rid of this guy! The Eagles should've kept Gibson or Baskett!— forjustice20
Ya think?— Richard Saunders- Curtis is not too bad out of the slot. Maybe moving Avant outside for a play or too to work in Curtis is the way to go.— Phillyhawk
- As long as he doesn't have the Shawn Andrews back condition.....!!!!— RoastedBird
- baskett has 2 catches for 14 yards. gibson was traded for will witherspoon (a solid, former pro bowl LB) after bradley & gaither went down. our defense would be horrible without witherspoon (imagine trot playing every down the last 2 games without jordan) and we would not be in 1st place without him. get a clue, moron.
- People tend to forget what a really GOOD receiver KC was when healthy. I don't expect him to be 100%, but if he can keep on getting better, we'll need him for the playoff game.— TBear
- Celek,looks like our best tight end since Keith Jackson.What an improvement over that injury prone clown from Rutgers!— MJOLLNIR HAMMER
- Wow, an NFL DL and a 6-5, 260 NFL TE from the same family. Imagine the food bills.— Bob1
- Ingram would be sooooo nice to have right now!— BoyWonder_89
- celek is better than keith jackson— djack10
- Curtis has been solid when healthy, I think if he can make a few catches and keep the Niners from focusing entirely on Desean we'll be fine. In his Eagle career he averages 4 catches for a little under 60 yards, which is pretty close to what Maclin has done so far.— trizot
- At 6-5 260 if he doesn't catch anything he can block for Weaver or McCoy. Kevin will be alright een if only for a decoy.— VegasEagleFan
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