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Vandervelde Takes Herremans Roster Spot

It's official: the Eagles have announced that right tackle Todd Herremans will miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury suffered Monday night in New Orleans. Julian Vandervelde has come up from the practice squad.

Herremans was the most veteran, accomplished remaining member of an o-line in crisis. The Eagles have allowed 27 sacks in half a season. Left guard Evan Mathis is the only starter remaining from the 2011 starting group.

Vandervelde was a sixth-round draft pick in 2011 who was picked up by Tampa Bay, demoted to their practice squad, cut from that, then rejoined the Eagles as a practice-squadder. "I always thought I'd be back in Philadelphia. The situation in which I find myself back on (the 53-man) is tragic, with 4 of our starters from last year down...All I can do is make the most of the opportunity," Vandervelde said.

Herremans leapt to avoid a downed defensive lineman in the Eagles' Monday loss at New Orleans and came down off-balance, with his right foot oddly flexed. Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder told reporters Herremans dislocated his cuboid bone and damaged ligaments around it. The bone popped back into place on its own, but not before damaging the area around it. Burdkholder said Eagles doctors are leaning against surgery, and he said Herremans should be OK for training camp next summer.

One tiny sliver of hope is that Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters has been designated as eligible for practice following two offseason Achilles' surgeries. Peters did not practice Wednesday, but for the Eagles to designate him, there must be some hope he can practice and join the 53-man roster within the three-week window before he must go on injured reserve.

The team cut defensive tackle Frank Trotter from the practice squad Wednesday but Trotter is still here. He will rejoin the practice squad when the Vandervelde move is official. The Eagles brought back training camp safety Phillip Thomas to the practice squad.