Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon went into the defensive meeting room Tuesday without one of his cornerstone players, defensive end Brandon Graham.
Graham, who had eight sacks last season and was instrumental in the team’s run defense and early defensive success this season, ruptured his Achilles tendon in Sunday’s 17-11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, ending his season.
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As Gannon was addressing Graham’s teammates, he explained that they would have to step up and replace not only Graham’s production on the field but his verbal and non-verbal leadership in the locker room.
“From a leadership and a character and attitude standpoint, I think collectively, everyone has to try to fill that void because not one guy is going to be able to do that,” Gannon said Wednesday. “We do feel good about the leaders that we still have within the defense, really good about the leaders that we have. From the standpoint of the roles he was playing, there are guys who will have to step in and fill where he was playing. We feel good about the guys that are going to do that.”
The Eagles used Ryan Kerrigan to replace Graham after Graham left the field. Kerrigan, who missed a lot of training camp due to a hand injury, played 32 snaps Sunday. The 11-year veteran cannot stay on the field forever, meaning the Eagles will most likely have to shift one of the defensive ends who typically play on the right side of the line over to the left to spell Kerrigan.
Gannon said a potential shift would not be a problem because the team already cross-trains several defensive linemen at different spots along the line.
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“How our guys are trained right now since we’ve been here with Coach (Tracy) Rocker and Coach (Jeremiah) Washburn, they feel pretty good plan multiple spots and on both sides,” Gannon said. “I feel good about still being able to move people around to get the best matchup, whatever it dictates for that week.”
One of the players who could be making the switch is Josh Sweat. Sweat recently signed a three-year, $40 million contract extension with the team. However, Sweat only played 28 snaps against the 49ers. Gannon said that it was not a reason to be concerned about how much Sweat was being used, stating it was more of how the game unfolded and the personnel packages that needed to be used.
“When he was in the game, he affected the game in a positive way and played winning football,” Gannon said. “You will continue to see Josh Sweat do that. From the standpoint of what he’s been since we’ve been here, he plays the run extremely well. He can rush, and he’s a great dude. Just like as he’s been doing, he’s going to continue to play winning football for us, which we need him to.”
Whoever lines up at left defensive end will have the opportunity to have a significant impact on Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys starting right tackle La’el Collins was suspended by the league for five games because Collins allegedly missed his drug testing appointments. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Collins is appealing the ruling.
If the suspension is upheld, second-year tackle Terence Steel will face either Kerrigan or Sweat. Last week, Steel gave up three hurries in the Cowboys’ 20-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Given the pass-rushing ability that Sweat and Kerrigan possess, it could force Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to rush his throws or begin to move out the pocket quicker than he anticipates, especially seeing pressure coming from his front side.
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
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