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Clyde Simmons and Seth Joyner to join Eagles Hall of Fame; Donnel Pumphrey misses preseason opener

Defensive stars from the Buddy Ryan era will join the Eagles' Hall of Fame.

Donnel Pumphrey didn't dress for the Eagles' preseason game.
Donnel Pumphrey didn't dress for the Eagles' preseason game.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer

Two legends from the storied defensive era of Buddy Ryan will join the Eagles' Hall of Fame, team chairman Jeffrey Lurie announced Thursday at halftime of the preseason game against Pittsburgh.

Clyde Simmons, a defensive end who played for the team  from 1986-93, amassed 76 of his 121.5 career NFL sacks with the Eagles. He ranks third on the team's all-time list, behind Reggie White (124) and Trent Cole (85). Simmons was a two-time all-pro and two-time Pro Bowler. In 1992, playing opposite White, Joyner compiled 19 sacks, second in team history only to White's 1986 total of 21.

Seth Joyner, a linebacker, was an outspoken leader whose three fumble returns for touchdowns are a team record. He was selected for three Pro Bowls, and was named an all-pro four times. Like Simmons, he played for the Eagles from 1986-93, then both players left as free agents for Arizona, where Ryan was coaching.

The two will be inducted on Sept. 23, when the Eagles play the Indianapolis Colts.

Pumphrey absent

Running backs Donnel Pumphrey and Matt Jones were not in uniform Thursday, missing a big opportunity in the competition for the fourth (or maybe fifth) running back spot on the roster. Pumphrey, a 2017 fourth-round pick, left practice early on Tuesday. He has shown improvement this summer after struggling during the preseason as a rookie, but he still has work to do to impress the decision-makers.

The Eagles also missed their top three wide receivers. Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Mike Wallace were all absent, as expected. Agholor and Wallace missed practice on Tuesday, and Jeffery is on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

The other players who were not in uniform were quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Nick Foles; wide receiver Markus Wheaton; offensive lineman Ian Park; defensive linemen Tim Jernigan and Brandon Graham; linebacker Asantay Brown; and defensive back Chris Maragos.

Left tackle Jason Peters, running back Darren Sproles, and tight end Zach Ertz were in uniform during warm-ups, although they did not play in the game.