The Eagles will be without Alshon Jeffery and Mack Hollins for Thursday's season opener against the Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field.
While it's not a surprise Jeffery (shoulder) will miss the game - he's considered "week to week" - it's a little surprising that Hollins won't play.
On Monday, even though he didn't practice, the second-year receiver seemed very confident he'd be playing.
But head coach Doug Pederson on Tuesday morning revealed that Hollins suffered a "minor setback" in his recovery from a groin injury and will be held out of the game. Pederson said the team will reevaluate Hollins when they get back to practice next week.
Pederson did confirm that Hollins had sports hernia surgery this offseason, but said that surgery is unrelated to the groin injury that will keep Hollins out of Thursday's game.
Without Jeffery and Hollins, here are the Eagles' receivers for Week 1:
Mike Wallace
Nelson Agholor
Shelton Gibson
DeAndre Carter
Markus Wheaton
Philadelphia Eagles
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Wheaton was just added to the roster on Tuesday morning as the team put Richard Rodgers (knee) on Injured Reserve (see story). Bringing back Wheaton was clearly linked to Hollins' status.
"We needed to have some depth at the receiver position," Pederson said. "Markus has been here all offseason, all training camp. It's a good fit for us."
As for Jeffery, he was taken off the Active/PUP from training camp and added to the 53-man roster as he recovers from rotator cuff surgery. That indicates he will be back in action before Week 6; otherwise, the Eagles could have saved a roster spot.
In recent weeks, Jeffery has been spotted working out with trainers and catching passes on a side field. Like Hollins, Jeffery will be reevaluated when the team gets back to the practice week next week.
"We'll make another determination next week," Pederson said about Jeffery. "He's another one that's getting close."
