Cornerbacks Jalen Mills and Ron Darby Set to Return to Practice
Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby might not be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Eagles’ ailing defense, but they were the two starting cornerbacks during the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII championship run, so they should constitute an upgrade over Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas and Craig James.
Mills is on track to return to the practice field on Wednesday after spending the first six weeks of the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
The Eagles made room for him on the roster by releasing Ryan Lewis on Monday, and Mills will likely see action Sunday night in Dallas when the Eagles and Cowboys battle for the top spot in the NFC East.
Darby, who has missed three straight games with a hamstring injury, could join Mills.
“We'll see where (Mills) is at by the end of the week, and if he's capable, maybe there's an opportunity there,” said head coach Doug Pederson. “Darby, we expect him to ramp his workload up a little bit and see where he's at. Those two guys would obviously (help) in the back end, as we are starting to get healthy.”
In two weeks, Cre-Von LeBlanc is eligible to begin practicing again after being placed on Injured Reserve prior to the start of the season with a foot injury. LeBlanc is expected to be healthy enough by then to resume practicing.
For now, that will have to do at the cornerback position.
The trade deadline is Oct. 29 and maybe then more reinforcements will come charging over the hill, or maybe Mills, Darby and LeBlanc will be it.
Mills hasn’t played in a year, so what he will look like in Dallas is anybody’s guess at this point.
“You have to be careful with Jalen, number one,” said Pederson. “He hasn't played in a while. That's why the practice is so important this week for him. I think you still have to have a plan. Obviously if he can't go 60 minutes, I don't think it would be smart on our part to put him out there for a full 60 minute game if he's ready to go.
“I think Darby on the other hand, you probably could do that just because he's played and he's played this season. So, probably two different guys, so I would expect Darby to maybe play a little more if he's healthy and ready than say Jalen.”
In six games, the Eagles have allowed 13 touchdown passes andthere has only been one game in which they have held a receiver under 100 yards.
So clearly they could use whatever help they can get in the secondary.
