Eagles' Ertz still out because of 'stuff' behind displaced rib
Tight end Zach Ertz has not been cleared to return to practice because of a displaced rib, and all he's waiting on is the medical staff to allow him to play.
"I'm not in a lot of pain right now," Ertz said. "It's just a matter of healing."
Ertz would not disclose a timetable. He's able to lift weights and stay in shape, but he cannot take contact.
"There's a lot of stuff behind that rib," Ertz said, when asked about the risk. "If it was a lower rib where the pain is now, I'd easily be able to play last week."
The displaced rib is under his shoulder, so the "stuff" behind the rib includes his heart. That's why the team must be careful.
Cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who also missed Monday's game, also missed practice because of a hamstring strain.
KENDRICKS UPDATE
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks didn't practice because of a fractured nose and a strained quadriceps, but he is expected to be able to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury occurred when his helmet was pushed down over his nose in the first half on Monday, and he played the rest of the game with swabs up his noise.
Kendricks, whose face is swollen, has difficulty breathing out of his nose, but he expects to be able to breathe on Sunday.
"Who hasn't broken their nose?" Kendricks said. "It's just a matter of time. Hey, I'm a real linebacker now."
LOCALS CONNECTIONS ON STEELERS
Two players with local connections on the Pittsburgh Steelers are left tackle Alejandro Villanueva and linebacker Tyler Matakevich.
Villanueva, a former Army Ranger, played for the Eagles during the summer of 2014. Chip Kelly used Villanueva as a defensive end, but he didn't make the team. In the preseason that year, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin saw the 6-foot-9 Villanueva salute the flag during the national anthem and thought he had the stature to play offensive tackle.
So when Villanueva became available, the Steelers brought him in and put him on offense, where he played in college. Now, he protects Ben Roethlisberger's blindside.
Matakevich, a standout at Temple, was a seventh-round pick who the Steelers are expecting to develop into a special teams standout.
"He's doing similar things here that he did in Philadelphia," Tomlin said. "He's displayed great instincts and urgency. He gets to the ball, he's around the ball. He makes a lot of plays. He's acclimating himself right now in terms of being one of our core special teams contributors. I don't see why he can't be great at that area while he continues to grow as a young linebacker."
EXTRA POINT
The Eagles signed cornerback JaCorey Shepherd to the practice squad on Wednesday and released offensive lineman Darrell Greene. Shepherd, a 2015 sixth-round pick, spent the summer with the team and was cut before the season.
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