Eagles

Finally, Some Good News: Jernigan Set to Return Sunday Against Giants

By Bob Wankel

Published: Nov 20th, 2018 · 4:00 PM EST

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There’s some new Eagles injury news, and, it’s finally of the good variety. After missing 10 games due to a significant back injury, defensive tackle Tim Jernigan is set to make his season debut on Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.

Roster Move: #Eagles have activated DT Tim Jernigan from NFI list and waived DT T.Y. McGill. pic.twitter.com/1ALhG2jLJu

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 20, 2018

It was widely expected the Eagles’ defensive line would wreak havoc on opposing offenses, but that has simply not been the case. Fletcher Cox enjoyed a strong start by registering three sacks over the season’s first three games, but has since cooled. As a collective unit, the defense has gotten to opposing quarterbacks on only 6.28% of pass attempts this season, which is 22nd in the NFL. The run defense, which was so stout a year ago, has been especially poor. Teams are rushing for 4.7 yards per carry, which is 24th in the NFL, and it’s not hard to see why.

Yeah, Sidney Jones has taken a lot of grief for his missed arm tackle on this 38-yard burst from Mark Ingram, and rightfully so, but key in on the interior defensive line:

https://twitter.com/schrayguy/status/1064270876101754881

Stood up and blown away.

To make room for Jernigan, the Eagles released defensive tackle T.Y. McGill who played 30 snaps last Sunday with the effectiveness of a trash can.

Certainly, Jernigan, who had 2.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss a season ago, will have to shake some rust and shouldn’t be expected to cure all that ails the defensive line, but he should provide a significant upgrade to a defensive tackle spot that’s been woefully thin beyond Cox. And with the Eagles’ season on life support, they’re going to need every bit of help they can get to bolster a defense that’s allowed a staggering 344 rushing yards over the past two weeks.