The Eagles had their two injured inside linebackers back on the practice field Wednesday but it looks like only one of them has a chance to play this weekend.
Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) was a full participant in practice and thinks there’s a possibility he’ll play. Kiko Alonso (knee) was limited and doubts he’ll go Sunday night in Carolina.
When asked if there’s a chance he will play this weekend, Alonso said “probably not,” but added that the Dallas game after the bye week was a more realistic expectation.
“Yeah, that’s probably what it’s looking like right now,” Alonso said.
Kendricks, on the other hand, was much more optimistic about his chances to face the Panthers on Sunday Night Football. He’s hoping to play and when asked if he could play on Wednesday if needed, he said: “Based off today, I say yeah.”
Alonso hurt his knee and Kendricks hurt his hamstring against the Cowboys on Sept. 20. Alonso has missed the last four games. Kendricks returned against the Redskins but aggravated the injury and left after 11 snaps. He’s missed the last two games.
“I think you’re your own worst enemy in this situation,” Kendricks said about wanting to play with an injury. “You know, listening to that competitive spirit that all of us in this room have, wanting to get back out there and play some football. It could actually be worse, it could actually end up in a situation like me, when you get hurt again. I think I’m my own worst enemy in that situation, going against natural instinct to go back out there.”
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Ultimately, the decision to play or not will be up to Kendricks but the linebacker said the trainers will definitely have a say.
Alonso hopes to do more at practice as each day passes this week but expects to be a limited participant for the entire week.
In the time since Alonso and Kendricks have been injured, veteran DeMeco Ryans and rookie Jordan Hicks have been starting. Safety Malcolm Jenkins said the team calls Ryans “Mufasa” and Hicks “Simba.”
Ryans sat out Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring injury but after Monday night’s game said he expected to play against the Panthers.
“[Ryans is] another day-to-day guy,” defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. “But knowing DeMeco and the way he handles injuries, you expect him back because he is a warrior.”