The Eagles are quickly adjusting to injuries that continue to decimate the safety position while also affecting a key component to their special teams units.
At safety, the Eagles are reportedly bringing back a familiar face in Anthony Harris, who was a full-time starter for them last season. Harris was released before the season started before signing with the Denver Broncos as a practice squad player. He got into three games before getting released last week.
The Eagles need Harris because Reed Blankenship, who was starting in place of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, injured his knee in the Eagles’ 48-22 win over the Giants. Gardner-Johnson is on injured reserve and can’t return until Jan. 1 at the earliest.
But the Eagles also need to replace punter Arryn Siposs, who suffered an ankle injury against the Giants. The Eagles reportedly plan to sign veteran Brett Kern, who punted for the Tennessee Titans from 2009-21.
Kern will join a unit that has had its struggles this season. Punt returner Britain Covey, like other special teamers and coordinator Michael Clay, have faced their share of criticism this season.
“When you have such a good offense and defense, there is kind of an understanding that special teams is there to not screw it up,” Covey said Sunday after the special teams had yet another gaffe against the Giants.
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That, of course, came when Siposs’ punt out of his end zone was blocked, the second time the Eagles have had a punt blocked this season.
Siposs recovered the ball, then started running up the sideline toward the first-down marker before he was knocked out of bounds at the Eagles’ 15 yard line. He hurt his ankle on the play, and was helped off the field, then taken on a cart to the locker room.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Monday the injury “looks like it’s going to (take) a little bit longer than we expected.” It remains to be seen as to whether Siposs will go on injured reserve, requiring him to miss four games. That would mean Siposs couldn’t return until the start of the playoffs at the earliest.
Kern, who’s 36, was selected to three Pro Bowls during his career.
Kicker Jake Elliott took over the punting duties against the Giants. Because the Eagles’ offense scored on 8 of its 10 possessions, Elliott only had to punt once. That went for 35 yards. The ball was downed without a return at the Giants’ 25.
“It got the job done,” Elliott said. “No return, which is always good.”
Covey took Siposs’ spot as the holder on field goals and extra points.
Elliott hit both attempts with Covey holding. Covey said he was his team’s holder in high school. He was also the backup holder all four years in college at Utah, working on it from time to time in practice, just like he does with the Eagles.
“I was always trying to get Coach (Kyle) Whittingham to put me in for a fake,” Covey said. “(In the NFL), it’s kind of one of those things where it’s just adding value. You want the coaches to feel comfortable with you at every position. They can put me in on kickoff, as gunner, on kickoff return, blocker, whatever it is.”
There was more on the positive side for the Eagles’ special teams. Covey had three returns of at least 20 yards on Dec. 4 against Tennessee after never having one longer than 15. Covey had a 16-yard return against the Giants.
In addition, Boston Scott returned a kick 66 yards. That came right after the Giants capitalized on blocking Siposs’ punt with a touchdown to cut the Eagles’ lead to 21-7 with 2:57 left in the first half. Scott’s return went to the Giants’ 35, and the Eagles ended the half with a field goal.
Scott also returned a kick 37 yards in the second half.
The coverage units have been better, too. Giants kick returner Gary Brightwell, who starred at St. Georges in Delaware, averaged just 19.3 yards on 3 returns.
“We’ve been so close on so many things throughout the year, that we’re kind of sick of just being so close,” Covey said.
More injury updates
In other news, Sirianni said injuries to Blankenship (knee) and RT Lane Johnson (abdomen) do not appear to be serious, although it’s likely that Blankenship will miss at least one game with the signing of Harris.
Blankenship, a rookie, had been starting in his place next to Marcus Epps. That leaves K’Von Wallace as the only other healthy safety on the 53-man roster, though Josiah Scott can play there.
“We’ll see if we need to do something with safety,” Sirianni said. “We’ve already talked about it (with GM Howie Roseman), and they’re on top of anything that we need to fill the roster.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
