PHILADELPHIA − It was bad enough that the referees missed a facemask penalty when Dallas Goedert fumbled the ball away in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ 26-21 loss Monday night.
But what added insult to injury, literally, was that Goedert suffered a shoulder injury on the play, and that he will miss multiple weeks, according to a league source. The NFL Network first reported that the Eagles’ star tight end will “miss extended time.”
It’s known yet if Goedert will be placed on injured reserve as Goedert was still undergoing tests Tuesday afternoon. If that’s the case, Goedert would have to miss at least four games, meaning that he wouldn’t be able to return until Dec. 18 against the Bears at the earliest.
Goedert left the field after the play and went into the medical tent. Incredibly, he did not miss a snap and ended up playing every snap on offense.
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Still, it would be a huge loss for the Eagles for however long Goedert is out.
Goedert is one of the Eagles’ three main receivers, along with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Goedert has 43 receptions this season while Smith has 46 and Brown has 44. No one else has more than 12.
Goedert is also second on the team in receiving yards with 544. Smith, who’s third, has 481. No one else has more than 193 yards receiving.
Goedert had 3 catches for 23 yards and a touchdown against the Commanders.
As for tight ends, the drop off is even steeper. Jack Stoll is the second tight end, and he has 4 catches for 49 yards. Grant Calcaterra, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick, has 1 catch for 40 yards.
It’s likely that the Eagles will activate tight end Tyree Jackson off the physically unable to perform list. The Eagles have until Wednesday to activate Jackson, which would mark the end of his 21-day practice window.
But Jackson is also inexperienced. He has just 3 career catches for 22 yards, all last season, before tearing his ACL against Dallas in the regular-season finale.
Goedert could be the third Eagles’ starter to go on IR in the last three games. Rookie defensive tackle Jordan Davis went on IR after suffering an ankle injury against the Steelers on Oct. 30, and nickel corner Avonte Maddox was placed on IR on Monday after suffering a hamstring injury against Houston on Nov. 3.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.