PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The defensive shuffle continues for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Injuries, and one suspension, will force the Eagles to use several players in different roles against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
Chris Gocong, usually the strongside linebacker, will become the Eagles’ sixth middle linebacker this season. Middle linebacker Will Witherspoon will move to the weakside and rookie Moise Fokou gets his second start on the strongside.
“It’s always something around here,” Gocong said. “This week it’s like a mini soap opera.”
The latest switches were prompted by a knee injury to starting weakside linebacker Akeem Jordan. The Eagles already have lost injured linebackers Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither for the season.
“We have some options,” defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. “But that’s likely the way it will be based on the situations, and the personnel group they use.”
eivers and talented tight end Antonio Gates, seldom-used cornerback Dimitri Patterson will play nickel back in place of Ellis Hobbs, who is out for the season with a neck injury, and Joselio Hanson, who was suspended four games this week for violating the NFL’s drug policy.
Hanson’s attorney, David Cornwell, said Wednesday his client did not use steroids, but took a pill before last January’s NFC title game that “turned out to be a diuretic.”
Patterson said he’s ready to help. “I know the scheme. I have my legs back. I feel confident,” he said.
Second-year defensive back Quintin Demps will replace Hobbs as the team’s primary kickoff returner.
“It changes the complexion every Monday,” McDermott said “That’s true all over the league. (Injuries) change the complexion of your roster. Instead of sitting down Monday morning to watch the opponent, you have to get a feel for the complexion of your roster and how you want to attack.
“It’s not ideal. We’ll just go with what we have and hope guys step up for us.”
A concern for the Eagles (5-3) is that three of the players being asked to step up – Patterson (hand/quad), Demps (ankle) and Gocong (hamstring) – are not completely recovered from their injuries. Demps did not practice Thursday.
t won’t be a problem.
“I’ll have it on the rest of the season,” he said. “I’m fine with it. It’s been a tough year with the injuries, but I’m ready to go.”
Patterson will go against a Chargers passing game that includes Vincent Jackson (42 receptions, 722 yards, seven touchdowns) and is ranked seventh in the league in passing offense.
“They’re a passing offense,” McDermott said “They are explosive down the field.”
There’s also a chance that San Diego, aware of the Eagles injury problems at linebacker, will run more, despite a ground game that ranks last in the NFL.
“That surprises me,” McDermott said. “They have a dangerous running game. They have some dynamic players at the running back position and an offensive line that creates movement at the line of scrimmage. There are quite a few teams that are playing eight-man fronts and that leads to an area in the passing game that they look to exploit.”
The Chargers (5-3) have averaged 3.1 yards per carry this season and leading rusher LaDainian Tomlinson (289 yards) is bothered by a sore hip.
That could help Gocong, who has practiced at middle linebacker but never played there in a game. He also missed last week’s game against Dallas with the hamstring injury, but feels he’s ready to go this week.
“The leg is fine,” Gocong said. “As far as being in the middle, I know the entire defense. I know the game plan. It’s just a matter of seeing things differently. It’s just going to take time. There’s a lot of new stuff going on here this week.”
NOTES: Running back Brian Westbrook (concussion/ankle) practiced on Thursday and is expected to play Defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee), who missed the last three games, also returned to practice.
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