Barbre and Goode could start for Birds vs. Redskins

The Eagles might need to count on reserves to play key roles in Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins with their injury report more crowded than usual this week.

Tackle Jason Peters, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, and safety Earl Wolff left last Sunday's 27-13 win over the Green Bay Packers. All three missed Tuesday's practice. Wolff will almost certainly miss the Washington game with a knee injury, and whether Kendricks and Peters will be on the field at the Linc on Sunday is still unknown. Kendricks has a knee injury and Peters has a quadriceps injury.

Their absence from practice does not mean they won't play, but the team is preparing Allen Barbre to replace Peters and Najee Goode to replace Kendricks. Patrick Chung will start in Wolff's place.

All three saw significant action in the Packers game, and their workload is increasing in practice this week.

"It's one thing to start; it's another thing to be an impact [player]," Goode said.

Chung has the easiest adjustment. He was signed this offseason to be a starting safety, and he lost his job only because of a shoulder injury that opened a spot for Wolff. Chung and Wolff had rotated after Chung's return from a two-game absence on Nov. 3, but Chung now will get the full workload.

He said his balky shoulder held up for 64 snaps against the Packers, so he's not concerned that it will be an issue against Washington. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis said Chung made some nice tackles with the shoulder and believes the injury is in the "rearview mirror."

But Chung wants to be even more productive. "I've got to get way better," Chung said. "Find things you did bad and get better from them. Find things you did good and get great from them."

Goode took 89 percent of the snaps after the speedy Kendricks was injured in the first quarter in Green Bay. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans was impressed by Goode's play and communication despite limited practice.

Coach Chip Kelly credited Goode's intelligence. Goode graduated from West Virginia with a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering. He arrived in Philadelphia after the preseason but still has been able to pick up the defense.

It was Goode's speed that enticed the Eagles to claim him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 2. "We were looking for [someone], ironically, to come in if Kendricks got hurt and add some speed," general manager Howie Roseman said.

Goode's father, John Goode, played tight end for the Eagles in 1985 and will be among relatives traveling to Philadelphia for Sunday's game. It would be the first start of Goode's career.

"It means a whole lot to go out there and not necessarily prove anybody wrong, but to go out there and make a statement," Goode said. "Now you start, what can you do with it? A lot of guys start in the league. You've got to be an impact [player] when you get on the field."

The most difficult of the injured Eagles players to replace Sunday would be Peters. Barbre, 29, is on his fourth NFL team and was out of the league last season after being suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He emerged as a dependable player in training camp and has been the Eagles' top reserve at guard and tackle.

"We've known all along that if he had to go in and play . . . that he would play very physical and he did that," offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. "We asked him to go in there and do the things that Jason does, and he did a nice job."

Barbre said bouncing around the NFL forced him to focus on the technical aspects of the game. Starting will allow him to spend the week focusing on one position with the first-team offense instead of preparing for tackle and guard while playing on the scout team.

"You see all the looks a lot more, and you might be a little more comfortable and a little more adjusted to it," Barbre said. "I think when you're a backup, you've just got to catch that stuff on the fly and put that in your notes and go over your notes later."

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