Eagles Notes: Barbre's season is over; Mathis out at least 7 games

The Eagles placed tackle Allen Barbre and reserve linebacker Najee Goode on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday. They also placed Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis on injured reserve-designated to return.

To fill their places on the 53-man roster, the Eagles signed veteran free-agent offensive lineman Wade Smith and signed linebacker Emmanuel Acho and tackle Kevin Graf off their practice squad.

Barbre, Goode, and Mathis were injured in the Eagles' 34-17 win over the Jaguars on Sunday. Mathis' injury initially appeared to be the most serious, but an MRI exam revealed a medial collateral ligament sprain in his right knee. He will be eligible to return for the Nov. 10 game against Carolina.

Mathis, who started 48 of the last 49 games for the Eagles, can practice in six weeks, but he will miss a minimum of seven games. His injury was diagnosed Monday as a Grade 3 sprain, which typically requires six to eight weeks of recovery. He will seek a second opinion Wednesday.

Barbre, who started at right tackle in the season opener for the suspended Lane Johnson, originally was thought to have a high ankle sprain. But he saw a foot specialist Tuesday and now is slated to undergo surgery. Goode, who was the Eagles' top backup inside linebacker behind starters DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks, tore a pectoral muscle.

The Eagles were one of the healthiest teams in the NFL last season. After losing four players (Jeremy Maclin, Arrelious Benn, Jason Phillips, Phillip Hunt) to season-ending injuries in training camp, they went all of last season without having to place a player on either IR or IR-designated to return.

Barbre and Goode joined linebacker Travis Long on this season's IR.

The Eagles have several options to replace Mathis and Barbre. David Molk and Andrew Gardner were pressed into duty against the Jaguars because they were the only backup linemen who dressed for the game. Molk, ideally a center, played left guard and Gardner moved to right tackle after Barbre left.

If coach Chip Kelly is not comfortable with Gardner, he could move right guard Todd Herremans outside. Matt Tobin normally would be the first tackle or guard off the bench, but he has been sidelined by a high ankle sprain and is not likely to be back in time for Monday night's game in Indianapolis.

Dennis Kelly, who was inactive against the Jaguars, is another option, although he is likely to take Mathis' spot. Molk performed admirably out of position, but the 6-foot-1, 290-pound backup center is undersize.

Smith, 33, was released by the Seattle Seahawks last month after they signed him in early August. He has started in 98 games over an 11-year NFL career and played for the Dolphins, Jets, Chiefs, and Texans. He earned a trip to the Pro Bowl after the 2012 season in Houston.

The 6-4, 295-pound Smith has played all three positions on the line but has the most experience at guard. He is an unlikely choice to start Monday because of the intricacies of Kelly's offense. Graf, an undrafted rookie out of Southern Cal, played tackle with the Eagles' third-team unit throughout the preseason.

Goode, who was a special-teams regular, was expected to give the 30-year-old Ryans the occasional break on defense this season. Casey Matthews will likely slide up into the third inside-linebacker spot, although Acho has flashed more on defense.

Matthews is more versatile and can play outside linebacker and on all the special teams.

The Eagles signed linebacker Brandon Hepburn and offensive lineman Tyler Hoover to the practice squad and released linebacker Colton Underwood. The 6-4, 235-pound Hepburn was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2013 draft. He was released last month.

The 6-7, 297-pound Hoover was previously on the Colts' practice squad. He played on the defensive line in college at Michigan State. The Eagles still have a practice-squad roster spot to fill.

The most pressing concern, though, will be whether the offensive line can weather the storm until Johnson returns from his four-game suspension on Oct. 5 against the Rams. Having a healthy Tobin, who seemingly performed like a starter in the preseason, will help.

But after a 2013 season in which all five linemen started 16 games and one playoff game, the Eagles will have to get by on duct tape and glue in the meantime.

@Jeff_McLane