PHILADELPHIA − Since the last time Jordan Davis played on Oct. 30, the Eagles added veteran defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh to a rotation that already included Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave.
Davis was activated off the injured reserve list Saturday and is expected to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, just in time to go against Titans running back Derrick Henry, who’s second in the NFL with 1,048 yards rushing.
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How well the Eagles defend against Henry and the Titans’ running attack will go a long way towards determining whether they can improve to 11-1. The Eagles also have an outside chance to clinch a playoff spot. They need a win, plus a Giants win over Washington, a Seahawks loss to the Rams, and a 49ers loss to the Dolphins.
Davis, who was out with a high-ankle sprain, said he has learned a lot watching Joseph and Suh the previous two games.
“Technique, man,” he said. “Obviously, they know how to play with aggression. I’m looking … how to read an offense, how our defense replies to that offense. So it’s just a lot of stuff. It’s really mind-blowing at the same time. I’m sitting there in awe, grabbing water for them in the meetings. I’m just grateful.”
The feeling is mutual, as Joseph described:
“He loves the game,” Joseph said. “He listens and he just wants to be great, so that’s good … He’s going to be a helluva player. I can’t wait to watch him.”
There’s a chance that Davis, Suh and Joseph will be on the field at the same time, especially in obvious running downs. Davis is listed at 336 pounds, Joseph at 329 and Suh at 313. That’s just short of 1,000 pounds, or a half ton, in the middle of the line. That would be hard to run through.
Milton Williams is the sixth defensive tackle in the rotation. But with defensive end Robert Quinn out with a knee injury, it’s possible that Williams will get some snaps at end.
DeVonta delivers early
While all the attention was on A.J. Brown facing his former team, it was DeVonta Smith who dominated early. He caught a 20-yard pass on 3rd-and-5 from the Eagles’ 27. Then he scored from 34 yards out on Jalen Hurts’ pass. It was Smith’s longest reception since he had 44- and 45-yard receptions against Washington on Sept. 25.
But the Titans got back into the game when the player the Titans drafted after trading Brown, Treylon Burks, caught a 25-yard TD pass from Ryan Tannehill.
Brown, meanwhile, had just 2 catch for 21 yards through the first quarter.
O-line committing penalties
The Eagles’ offensive line hasn’t gotten off to a good start. It was called for two false starts on the opening drive. By the end of the first quarter, four of the five starters were called for penalties. Jason Kelce, Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson were each called for false starts. Isaac Seumalo was called for a hold.
Left tackle Jordan Mailata was the only offensive lineman not called for a penalty through the first quarter.
In all, the Eagles committed 6 penalties for 40 yards in the first quarter.
Eagles inactives, watch info
For the Eagles, the inactives are DE Robert Quinn, QB Ian Book, RB Trey Sermon, CB Josh Jobe, OL Josh Sills and OL Sua Opeta.
The Titans are without starting defensive lineman Denico Autry, who has a team-high 7 sacks.
3 things to watch
- A.J. Brown vs. the Titans: As much as Brown tried to downplay facing his former team, he’s prideful and would like nothing more than to have a big game against the Titans, especially after the rancor from last spring when contract negotiations broke down. The Eagles traded for Brown on draft night, then signed him to a four-year deal worth as much as $100 million. Brown leads the Eagles with 831 yards receiving, while Tennessee, ranked 29th in passing, is led by Robert Woods with 351.
- Miles just yards from 1,000: Miles Sanders needs 100 yards Sunday to reach 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. But the Titans’ rush defense is the third stingiest in the NFL, allowing only 85 yards per game. The Eagles as a team had 363 yards on the ground last Sunday against Green Bay, with quarterback Jalen Hurts setting a franchise record for a quarterback with 157. Needless to say, the Eagles won’t duplicate that against Tennessee.
- Filling in with Blankenship: Safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was placed on injured reserve Saturday, meaning that rookie undrafted free agent Reed Blankenship will make his first career start. Blankenship filled in for Gardner-Joseph after Gardner-Joseph left with a lacerated kidney in the first quarter. Blankenship had his first NFL interception. But Blankenship had played just 2 defensive snaps before that game. No doubt, Tennessee will test him.
Prediction: Eagles 24, Titans 19.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
