Report: Eagles' Alshon Jeffery may miss first six games of season
There’s still over three weeks until the Philadelphia Eagles open the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons so there is time for things to change, but a Monday report says receiver Alshon Jeffery may miss that game – and several more.
Shoulder surgery in February
Jeffery played in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, and reportedly through the entire 2017 season, with a damaged rotator cuff, and didn’t have it surgically repaired until after the franchise’s first championship.
Because of the timing of his surgery and the rehab needed for a rotator cuff, Jeffery hasn’t practiced yet, and may not be available for a while.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted on Monday afternoon that while Jeffery is “progressing according to plan, sources say the timing of his rotator cuff surgery…means there’s a chance he may not be ready for the opener.”
Jeffery has been on the Eagles’ physically unable to perform list since training camp began.
Decision to make
By rule, players can only be placed on the active/PUP list to start camp, and can come off at any time during the preseason. But if a player stays on the PUP list for the entirety of the preseason, his team can transfer him to the reserve/PUP list, but that means he is unavailable for the first six games of the season.
The Eagles may of course make that decision with Jeffery, who started all 16 games last season, his first in Philadelphia.
They could also just hold open his roster spot, acknowledging that he’s an important part of the offense and may be ready three or four weeks into the season, if not sooner.
Jeffery had 57 catches for 789 yards and nine touchdowns last regular season; he added 12 receptions and three touchdowns in Philadelphia’s three playoff games.
More from Yahoo Sports:
• Dan Wetzel: Is Tiger Woods back?
• Charles Robinson: Broncos may be running out of patience with young QB
• Cubs stun Nationals with one of baseball’s rarest plays
• Jeff Passan: Latest incident proves MLB is still a white man’s game
