PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles offensive line hasn’t performed on the elite stage the group is accustomed to. How can a unit with two All-Professional offensive tackles, a Professional Bowl left guard, and a Professional Bowl middle battle as considerably as this unit has by way of seven video games?
Accidents have one thing to do with it. That is the case for Landon Dickerson anyway.
Dickerson admitted the apparent this week, because the Professional Bowl left guard has been battling accidents which have hindered him all through the season. From coaching camp, Dickerson was battling accidents as he had surgical procedure to restore meniscus cleanup on his proper knee. He returned in time for the season opener, however suffered a again harm in September.
Then Dickerson suffered an ankle harm earlier this month, as he missed the Week 6 loss to the New York Giants. On high of all these accidents, Dickerson had knee surgical procedure after the Tremendous Bowl in February.
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“After 13 surgical procedures, I am not managing a lot,” Dickerson stated with reference to managing his accidents. Dickerson was additionally a restricted participant in Wednesday’s apply with again and ankle accidents.
“It is shitty,” Dickerson stated. “You begin off the 12 months having surgical procedure, and you do not get again to 100%. You attempt to go play, you are getting tousled once more. And also you sort of get right into a cycle of that. However yeah, it is simply soccer.”
Dickerson has battled greater than accidents this season, and it is affecting his efficiency on the sector. He is allowed three sacks in 158 pass-blocking snaps this season and a career-high 8.2% stress charge allowed per drop again. The Eagles offensive line has additionally struggled within the wake of Dickerson’s harm, permitting 21 sacks (sixth in NFL and a sack charge of 9.7% — twenty seventh).
The run sport has struggled to get going as properly. Not solely do the Eagles common 3.3 yards per carry (thirty first in NFL), however they’ve only a 39.3% conversion charge operating the ball on third down (twenty ninth). The 1.06 yards earlier than contact can be twenty third within the league, a product of Saquon Barkley averaging simply 3.3 yards per carry.
That is what makes Dickerson’s accidents all of the extra irritating. He was simply beginning to get again to being the dominant participant he was earlier than the ankle harm was one other setback. He is anticipated to play towards the Giants this week.
“I had undoubtedly began feeling higher in that sport,” Dickerson stated. “Yeah, then you find yourself having that, and also you return and do it yet again.”
Not solely is Dickerson battling accidents, however there’s an opportunity he could also be transferring positions this week. Cam Jurgens suffered a knee harm in Sunday’s win over the Vikings, and Brett Toth crammed in at middle. Dickerson has performed middle at Florida State and Alabama, and has crammed in there for the Eagles as an emergency choice.
That choice could also be accessible Sunday as Jurgens did not apply to start out the week, and is trending within the route of not taking part in Sunday. The Eagles might go together with Dickerson at middle, or preserve him at left guard and persist with Toth.
“Form of no matter they suppose the best choice is,” Dickerson stated. “We at all times attempt to preserve no less than three guys who can play middle on sport day. So, I do know Cam’s (Jurgens) in that rotation, Brett (Toth), me. I do know we obtained Drew Kendall.
“So sort of wherever they suppose getting the most effective 5 guys out there may be.”
It doesn’t matter what accidents Dickerson has, he’ll battle by way of them. Dickerson admitted he is solely at 70-75%, but he’ll handle.
“That is the factor. It is the way you base your 100%,” Dickerson stated. “I base my 100% off the place I will be presently, not the place I used to be at any level in life.”
