Jonathan Greenard will not play in the Eagles’ season opener against the Commanders after the team ruled him out on Friday. The defensive player missed all of Training Camp with a pectoral injury, then returned to practice only in a limited role this week, but not enough to clear him for Sunday.
That is the news people are looking for because Week 1 is here, and the Eagles have to sort their defense without one of the names they added during NFL Draft weekend in a trade from Minnesota. Greenard was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, which left room for hope, but Friday closed that door. Nick Sirianni said his status was “up to team doctors,” and Vic Fangio answered “We’ll see” on Thursday when asked about the outlook.
The limited return mattered because it showed progress, not readiness. Greenard had spent all of Training Camp away from full work, and the team’s decision to hold him out for the opener suggests the pectoral injury is still the deciding factor. He is expected to make his Eagles debut later, but not in the first real game that counts.
Eli Stowers was the only other player on the Eagles’ initial injury report on Wednesday, and he remains in a different race against time. He has been limited while recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason game against the Patriots, though he said he was back in practice and doing well. “Just to get back onto the field and be able to play in the first real regular-season game, it’s a blessing,” he said.
Stowers is officially questionable for Sunday, while all other players on the Eagles’ active roster are good to go against the Commanders. The Commanders, by contrast, said all of the players on their injury report will be available, even though the list included K’Lavon Chaisson, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Odafe Oweh, Daron Payne, Nick Allegretti, Javon Kinlaw, Jordan Magee, Marcus Mariota, Charles Omenihu and Ben Sinnott. That leaves the Eagles’ sideline with one fewer option than it wanted and one clear answer before kickoff: Greenard is out, and the waiting continues after Week 1.
