Update: 1:30 p.m.
Injured inside linebackers Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks were both participating in practice Wednesday morning, but defensive coordinator Bill Davis said it’s still unlikely either will return to action on Sunday.
Alonso hasn’t played since hurting his knee in the Dallas game back on Sept. 20. Kendricks also got hurt against the Cowboys. He tried to return against the Redskins but aggravated his hamstring injury after only 11 snaps and hasn’t played since.
“We’re going to test the waters with Mychal and Kiko today,” Davis said. “They’re going to get a little bit and it’s just kind of saying, 'OK, where are we?'
“So they’ll get out there a little bit this week. I don’t really anticipate them (playing). It’s a day to day thing. So hopefully they’ll surprise me, but I don’t know if they will.
“The key thing is them getting healthy and getting healthy at the right pace that their body will allow.”
Alonso has missed four games and Kendricks has missed all but 11 snaps over the last four games.
NFL
Alonso was listed as a limited participant on the Eagles' official injury report Wednesday. Kendricks practiced in full.
The Eagles face the Panthers Sunday night in Charlotte, North Carolina, then they’re on their bye week and don’t play again until Nov. 8 in Dallas. That’s seven weeks after they were both initially injured.
Davis said the Eagles aren’t necessarily looking at the bye week as a way to get the two inside linebackers extra rest. If they’re ready, they’ll play Sunday.
“It’s not so much the bye because every week we need as many hands on deck as we can get, so if they can go they will go,” he said before practice Wednesday.
“But it’s just a matter of their body and where they are. First thing is getting them healthy and getting them back for the rest of the season. But if they can go they’ll go.”
Because they played on Monday night, Wednesday’s practice is the Eagles' first this week.
Another inside linebacker, DeMeco Ryans, was sitting out practice Wednesday with a hamsting injury he suffered Monday night in the win over the Giants.
But Ryans said after the game he expects to play Sunday night.
“I think we may rest him today,” Davis said. “He’s another day-to-day guy. But knowing DeMeco and the way he handles injuries, you expect him back because he is a warrior.”
The Eagles’ only other inside linebackers are rookie Jordan Hicks, who has started the last four games, Najee Goode and Brad Jones, who has not played a snap on defense this year.
Also Wednesday, wide receivers Nelson Agholor (ankle) and Riley Cooper (knee contusion) were sitting out practice. It doesn't sound likely that Agholor will play against the Panthers. Cooper was optimistic Monday night about his chances.
Defensive end Brandon Bair (groin), who hasn’t played since the Redskins game, returned to practice but was limited.