The Eagles have been losing players at an alarming rate.
They're about to get one back.
Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill said Wednesday he expects to be back for the Eagles' game a week from Thursday against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Grugier-Hill, who started 10 games last year and was having a tremendous training camp, suffered a left knee sprain while making a tackle on Jordan Howard at practice on Aug. 3.
Considering how bad the injury looked - Kamu was carted off the practice field - it would be huge if Grugier-Hill winds up only missing three regular-season games.
Grugier-Hill participated in Wednesday's walkthrough, the first time he's done any sort of team drills since he got hurt.
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He's hoping to do some work on Thursday when the Eagles return to their regular practice mode.
I just know I feel myself how I move how I feel, you know your body better than anyone else," he said. "I think I'm there. We're just going to give it a couple more days just to make sure, but I'm good, I'm ready.
Most likely, Grugier-Hill would be able to play this Sunday if the Eagles didn't have two games in five days. Since that would be too much for a guy coming off a knee injury, it makes sense to keep him shut down Sunday at home against the Lions and give him an extra few days.
Grugier-Hill, 25, was primarily a special teamer in his first two years with the Eagles, with one defensive snap in 2016 and 85 in 2017. That increased to 328 last year, or more than 20 per game.
He's also played 873 special teams snaps the last three years, a team-high 686 the last two years.
If he plays against the Packers, Grugier-Hill will have come back from a pretty serious knee sprain in 54 days.
I've had injuries before where I definitely came back too early but I made it work," he said. "It's just kind of the desire to be back. You want to be back out there with the guys, but it's a fine line. You have to be smart about it.
With Grugier-Hill out, Nigel Bradham – coming off a foot injury of his own -- has played all 130 defensive snaps in the Eagles' first two games.
That's too much.
Zach Brown has played 78 and Nate Gerry 22.
What role he has on special teams and how many reps he can get on defense remains to be seen.
But just having a quick, athletic linebacker on the field in some role has to help.
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