Ryans, Polk sit out practice; DeMeco says he expects to play

Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis was questioned at length about strategy and the play of his corners in the fourth-quarter meltdown that nearly cost the Birds a victory Sunday against the Rams, but Davis only got one question about something that might have much more to do with winning or losing this week against the Giants.

Davis said he didn't expect to have middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans for Tuesday's light workout, but Davis said he is hopeful Ryans can play Sunday night. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur earlier indicated he thought running back/returner Chris Polk (hamstring) would practice today, but Polk did not.

After practice, Ryans told reporters "I expect to play," but he acknowledged that expectation is predicated on continued improvement in the right groin injury he suffered in the third quarter against the Rams. The departure of Ryans, the leader of the front seven, contributed to what Davis called a "disastrous" fourth quarter. With Ryans and fellow inside starter Mychal Kendricks (calf) both sidelined, the Eagles were forced to play dime coverage, using just one linebacker, mostly Emmanuel Acho.

Acho said if Ryans can't go, he thinks he will play Ryans' spot and Casey Matthews will play for Kendricks.

Kendricks warmed up with the team Tuesday but did not practice and is unlikely to play against the Giants, with the Eagles coming up on their bye week. Davis said Kendricks is "day-to-day" with the calf injury he suffered at Indianapolis Week 2.

Davis said that though fans and media focus on the corners, "it's not just the corners having the breakdowns." He gave a nuanced explanation of how Cary Willliams did exactly what Davis wanted him to to on the late 5-yard TD pass to Brian Quick that set the final score. Short version: Nate Allen blitzed, Williams had no help, and he took away the inisde the way he was supposed to. Austin Davis made a really good outside throw over Allen's hands, which Williams could not have anticipated or stopped.

Shurmur was asked about the hoo-ha over LeSean McCoy's absence on the drive when the Eagles were trying to run out the clock Sunday. McCoy said after the game he took himself out in favor of Darren Sproles. Eagles coach Chip Kelly referenced McCoy's statement when Kelly was asked about the matter. Then McCoy said on his Monday radio show that actually, running backs coach Duce Staley took him out.

Shurmur called the controversy "a nonissue to us." He said there are times when Staley changes the backs, other times when "the running back himself will have something happen in a pileup and he needs a moment and he comes out. It happened seamlessly, and it was really a nonissue."

Shurmur said quarterback Nick Foles and the offense are "grinding through it," with different personnel, facing different defenses "that are playing us differently."

'It's not always pretty," Shurmur said. "That's the really cool thing about our sport. You grind it out."

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