The Eagles might have beaten the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but they’ll go into next week without former first-round pick Derek Barnett.
Derek Barnett tears ACL in season opener
Adam Schefter announced on Monday afternoon that the Tennesee product tore his ACL in the season-opener.
Defensive end was already the lightest position on the entire roster as far as depth is concerned and the Eagles are now without a key rotational name. Barnett might not have been the most beloved pass-rusher of this generation, but the 25-year-old was certainly good enough to take an EDGE 3/4 role behind Mr. Reddick (in flurries) Brandon Graham, and Josh Sweat.
What’s next for the Eagles?
What’s worrying now is the depth chart behind him. There’s only really second-year player, Tarron Jackson. Haason Reddick will line up with a hand in the dirt in certain packages, but even on Sunday we saw the Eagles work in a variety of looks which saw defensive tackles at EDGE and vice verse. While it’s great to have versatiltiy in the locker room, it’s less than ideal to only have three true EDGE players on a roster.
There’s no doubt that Howie Roseman is already picking up the phone and looking for potential replacements, which realistically wouldn’t have been the worst decision anyway. Barnett was a liability last year in terms of drawing penalties and many were confused when he re-signed this past offseason.
Regardless of how you feel about Derek Barnett, nobody wants to see him hurt. We’re wishing him a speedy recovery and hopefully we can see him back on the football field next year.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
