Eagles Notes: Ertz plays in Eagles opener after missing preseason

ATLANTA - Zach Ertz returned to the Eagles lineup in the season opener on Monday after missing the entire preseason because of a groin injury.

Ertz played a role in the offense, including an 18-yard reception on fourth and 1 in the second quarter.

The third-year tight end was questionable entering the game. When he underwent surgery last month, he targeted the Falcons game as his return date, on the front end of a four-to-six-week timetable.

Ertz said in the past week that pain was not a problem, and that it was simply a matter of returning to game shape. Monday was the first time Ertz and quarterback Sam Bradford played together in a game. Bradford missed Ertz on a pass in the end zone in the first half.

The Eagles started Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans at inside linebacker and played Kiko Alonso in the nickel formation, but they used Alonso more as the game progressed.

Alonso, acquired from Buffalo in a trade for LeSean McCoy, introduced himself to Eagles fans by preventing a touchdown with a one-handed interception in the end zone that would impress even Odell Beckham Jr.

However, Alonso was flagged for a costly illegal-contact penalty in the second quarter on a play in which the Eagles recovered a fumble.

The Eagles used a new wrinkle in their nickel formation by inserting safety Chris Maragos into the game and moving Malcolm Jenkins to the slot. Maragos, in his second year with the team, played only 15 defensive snaps last season.

The Eagles experimented with different players at slot cornerback throughout the preseason. They traded Brandon Boykin, who held the role for the last three seasons, in August. Rookie JaCorey Shepherd was projected to replace Boykin before tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in training camp.

The Eagles hinted that they could move a starter to the slot, but it's noteworthy that Jenkins moved instead of a cornerback. It shows that the Eagles prefer Maragos over Eric Rowe, a second-round pick who could not secure the job during the summer.

Wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu left the game in the first half with a concussion. Ajirotutu is a special-teams standout. The injury occurred when he ran into Falcons punt returner Eric Weems. . . . Linebacker Marcus Smith, who has a hamstring injury, was inactive. The other inactive players were offensive linemen Dennis Kelly and Josh Andrews, defensive lineman Brandon Bair, running back Kenjon Barner, cornerback Denzel Rice, and quarterback Stephen Morris. . . . The Eagles decided to go with Taylor Hart over Bair as the sixth defensive lineman. Last season, Bair played over Hart.