Eagles Secondary Takes Another Hit
Another key defender will miss time for the Philadelphia Eagles because of injury. Eagles starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a lacerated kidney in the first quarter of the Birds’ Sunday night win over the Green Bay Packers. He will be out indefinitely, according to multiple sources.
Yet another blow to Philadelphia’s defense as their depth will be challenged again. They are already without starting slot corner Avonte Maddox, rookie defensive lineman Jordan Davis and fellow lineman Marlon Tuipulotu. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will now have to figure out a way to make up for a huge loss on the back end of the defense.
Gardner-Johnson leads the league in interceptions with six. He has been a great addition to the group after he was acquired via trade before the start of the season. The four-year player was drafted in 2019 out of the University of Florida by the New Orleans Saints. He spent his first three seasons at the cornerback position. And he made the switch to safety once he joined the Eagles. There were some obvious concerns of such a switch for Gardner-Johnson to a different position as the coaching staff tried to sure up the safety position. But the returns have been really good through 11 games. Probably enough to have general manager Howie Roseman looking to extend him to a contract extension in the offseason.
Rookie Reed Blankenship took over the safety duties and finished the game tied with a team-high six tackles. Blankenship’s big play came early in the second quarter with the Birds up 20-14. The rook was being targeted by Aaron Rogers as the Packers were driving and in Eagles territory. But the Middle Tennessee product picked off a pass intended for Tyler Davis. If Blankenship is the man going forward, he will be tested. Let’s hope he can stand up for the challenge.
