Eagles Notes: Special teams produce 2 Eagles touchdowns

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Eagles scored two special-teams touchdowns in a game Sunday for the first time since 1992.

The first score in the 26-21 loss to San Francisco was a blocked punt by Trey Burton that Brad Smith recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. The second was an 82-yard punt-return touchdown by Darren Sproles.

"I hit my gap as hard as I could, and the punter was in a real bad situation," Burton said. "All I know was I was trying to bull-rush the guy and I jumped to go block it, and I guess it hit him in his back."

An undrafted rookie from Florida, Burton made the team as a fourth tight end. Coach Chip Kelly explained that most teams don't typically keep four tight ends, but the Eagles kept Burton on the roster because of his value on special teams.

Sproles' punt return in the second quarter was the longest in his career and the fifth-longest return in Eagles history. He has four career punt-return touchdowns and two career kickoff-return scores, tied for fifth among active players.

Sproles said he expected a line-drive kick. The emphasis was to keep the return on the side where the ball was punted.

"When I caught it, Nolan Carroll made a big block on the gunner," Sproles said. "When he made that block, it was just green grass."

The Eagles will receive help for their struggling offensive line when right tackle Lane Johnson returns this week. Johnson missed the first four weeks because of a suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

"There's help on the way," Kelly said. "We'll get Lane in there and see what he can do. Maybe that adds stability to it, but we need to really get it figured out."

Johnson has trained at the Athletes' Performance Institute in Frisco, Texas. The Eagles coaches have not talked with him yet. They will meet with him Monday.

Brandon Boykin left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury but returned in the second half. Boykin was injured covering a punt. Safety Malcolm Jenkins replaced Boykin in the slot, with Earl Wolff taking Jenkins' spot at safety in nickel packages.

Jason Peters left the game for one play in the third quarter, although he quickly returned.

Wide receiver Josh Huff was inactive in Sunday's game, although he was a full participant in practice during the week. Huff, a third-round pick who has missed the last month with a shoulder injury, was listed as questionable.

The other inactive players were quarterback Matt Barkley, defensive back Jaylen Watkins, center Jason Kelce, tackle Kevin Graf, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, and defensive lineman Taylor Hart.

Casey Matthews started in place of the injured Kendricks, although Emmanuel Acho and Marcus Smith played. David Molk started for Kelce at center.

Acho's first career sack was nullified by a penalty. The Eagles finished with four sacks. . . . The Eagles forced a turnover for the 17th consecutive game. It's their longest since a 37-game streak from 1993 to '95.