Big roster move on a Friday morning.

The Eagles promoted defensive tackle Bruce Hector from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and released wide receiver Kamar Aiken.

That means you’re looking at a group of Fletcher Cox, Haloti Ngata, Treyvon Hester, and Hector at DT this Sunday, with Michael Bennett likely to play a good chunk of snaps on the inside. Ngata is still iffy with a calf injury and that’s something head ball coach Doug Pederson mentioned in his press conference today:

• Jalen Mills is fine after tweaking a hamstring in practice Thursday. “He’ll be good.”
• Hector adds some depth at the tackle spot, Ngata is questionable, day-to-day with his calf injury. Addition of Hector doesn’t mean anything in regard to Ngata’s health.
• Treyvon Hester has practiced well and can take #2 defensive tackle snaps if it comes down to that. “He’s going to be asked to do more this week.”
• Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins “are doing well,” progressing nicely through rehab.
• Optimistic Darren Sproles will be able to practice next week.
• Rasul Douglas is back with the team (death in the family)
• Pederson does talk to his team about the week’s refereeing crew (more on that later)
• deferring on winning coin tosses is about gaining another possession in the first half
• Jason Peters and Lane Johnson are both expected to play Sunday
• Jordan Hicks is back to the player he was before the injury, has done a really good job, making plays and getting the defense lined up and organized.

Not a ton to write home about. Full injury report should come later today. Corey Graham (hammy) and Sidney Jones (hammy) did not practice Thursday.

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It’s come to my attention that I’ve been incredibly neutral lately, just trying to do quality analysis and post-game breakdowns without the knee-jerk overreaction or outrageous hot takes.

In other words, I’m trying to be fair.

But fair doesn’t necessarily move the needle in 2018, when the most well-known media personalities are people who just say ridiculous and off-base shit, contradict themselves, and continue to make things up until someone finally pulls the plug or they retire.

I can hold my own alongside Jason Whitlock and Colin Cowherd, and to prove that I’m not Mr. Milquetoast, I pulled 50 hot takes out of my rear end, which you can dive into after the jump:

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“Let’s get it back to the Eagles,” as Matt Nahigian would tell Rob Ellis and Harry Mayes.

Doug Pederson spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s home game against Graham Gano and the Carolina Panthers.

Most significant were a couple of injury updates provided by the head ball coach:

• Team has a plan at defensive tackle after releasing Destiny Vaeao. Haloti Ngata (calf) is “getting close” and is day-to-day in terms of readiness. Tim Jernigan keeps “progressing” but is not yet ready to practice. Pederson is “hopeful and optimistic” regarding Jernigan, which I would assume means he does play sometime this season.
• Treyvon Hester is a part of the defensive tackle puzzle and they’ll continue to progress with him each week.
• Jason Peters is doing fine and will practice today. RE: the biceps injury – “There’s something there. He definitely can play. No concern with injuring him any further.” Doug also said there’s no need to give Peters a rest to deal with niggling injuries.

More notes after the jump:

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From the team account:

Roster Moves: #Eagles have signed CB Dexter McDougle and waived/injured DT Destiny Vaeao. Also, the Eagles have signed DT Winston Craig to the practice squad and released LB Kyle Wilson from the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/hq68thqAe2

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 16, 2018

Vaeao was set to take a big step forward this season with the departure of Beau Allen and the injury to Tim Jernigan, but that never really materliazed. He played a little more than 150 snaps and logged two tackles and a sack that was more or less a gift play. The Birds look thin at DT and don’t have much beyond Fletcher Cox and Haloti Ngata heading into Sunday, so I guess Michael Bennett will line up at tackle for a chunk of snaps.

The 27-year-old McDougle played eight games for the Eagles last season after he was acquired in a preseason trade with the New York Jets. He was later released and spent part of the year with the Saints. McDougle was a former third round pick who tore his ACL as a rookie and later found a role as a special teamer.

Words of wisdom from Giants President, CEO, and co-owner John Mara, who is talking about star wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr.

Mara:

Giants owner John Mara just now at owners meetings, re: Odell Beckham: "I wish he would create the headlines by his play on the field as opposed to what he says and what he does off the field. I think he needs to do a little more playing and a little less talking."

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) October 16, 2018

Fair? Probably.

It’s not like OBJ is to blame for the Giants’ woes, since his quarterback can’t get him the ball, but you need the dude to be a leader on and off the field, which does not include headbutting industrial-grade mechanical fans.

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I don’t have a hot take for Jason Witten’s broadcasting performances on Monday Night Football. I think he’s improving as the season progresses and he’s learning a bit more about the craft as he gets more games under his belt.

It’s almost as if the guy had never done color commentary before. Imagine that!

Either way, I thought it was pretty funny when he dropped this line last night:

Holy hell!

Aaron Rodgers just tied the game AND pulled a rabbit out of his HEAD, according to Jason Witten!!! pic.twitter.com/1DGE7mGWDJ

— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) October 16, 2018

“I tell you what Tess, you saw Aaron Rodgers there, blood on his elbow, big ole’ knee brace on, hit in the wrist, it doesn’t matter – he pulls another rabbit out of his head!”

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