Center Cam Jurgens returns as Eagles brace for Lions
Birds host Detroit on “Sunday Night Football”
From The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/bdfchs44
PHILADELPHIA — Cam Jurgens is back.
The Eagles’ Pro Bowl center, who missed the last two games with a knee injury, fully practiced Friday after being limited during the week.
Jurgens, 26, who signed a four-year, $68 million extension in April, had no listed status for Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions, meaning he’ll play. Brett Toth has been filling in since Jurgens exited Oct. 19 in Minnesota.
“I’m just trying to get better every day, every week,” Jurgens said at NovaCare Complex Friday. “Brett did a great job. He’s been in the league seven, eight years now. He stepped in. … Communication was good. He knows exactly what we’re doing.”
The Eagles (7-2) beat the Packers 10-7 Monday night as coach Nick Sirianni improved to 10-0 against the NFC North, where Detroit (6-3) is atop the division.
“You go some places and they wave at you, ‘We’re so happy that you’re here to play against us!’ This is not one of those places,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said about playing in Philadelphia. “I love playing in atmospheres like that. It’s a great place to play … it’s electric. It’s probably the most hostile place to play. … It gets you fired up.”
Detroit was one of the 10 teams that voted against banning the tush push, the Eagles’ signature short-yardage play, during the offseason when Green Bay spearheaded the failed effort in collaboration with the league.
“I’m a purist,” Campbell said last week. “If you take something out of the game, then you’re taking the next thing out of the game. Then pretty soon we don’t have pads anymore. Then pretty soon you’re only playing 30 minutes.
“A team has got a niche, they’ve found something, they’re good at it. That’s for everybody else to stop. It’s unique and it’s physical. More than anything I just don’t want to take anything else out of the game. I just want to leave the game alone.”
Throughout the week, the Birds faced drama with wide receiver A.J. Brown, who publicly criticized his underuse in the offense. He was targeted just three times against the Packers and has only 31 receptions for 408 yards this season as the Eagles’ attack has yet to be consistent.
“At what point are we going to pick up our slack as an offense?” Brown, a team captain, said, among other things. “Week after week sometimes, we’re not contributing, we’re not doing our job on offense.”
Many teammates agreed with him. Right tackle Lane Johnson has expressed similar sentiments this season. Running back Saquon Barkley, whose production has been uneven after a historic 2024 campaign, thought Brown was on point.
“Whether we score 10 or we score 40, A.J.’s not saying anything wrong,” Barkley said. “We’re looking for ways to improve.
“In reality, in our locker room, that has no factor at all … It’s a lot of noise, in my opinion. We’re focused on Detroit. And we know we’re going to get the best from A.J. as a player and a leader.”
The Lions have been banged up and will be without some key players Sunday, most notably tight end Sam LaPorta, cornerback Terrion Arnold and safety Kerby Joseph. With a depleted Detroit secondary, perhaps it’s an opportunity for Brown to break out.
Injury report
Eagles: Questionable is G/C Willie Lampkin (knee/ankle), but he was a full participant in Friday’s practice. Also full participants were LS Cal Adomitis (finger), CB Jakorian Bennett (pectoral), WR Darius Cooper (shoulder), LG Landon Dickerson (quad), Johnson (ankle), EDGE Nolan Smith (triceps), G Tyler Steen (oblique) and Jurgens (knee).
Lions: Out are CB Arnold (concussion), S Joseph (knee), TE LaPorta (back) and
EDGE Josh Paschal (back).
Questionable are EDGE Marcus Davenport (shoulder), T Taylor Decker (shoulder), OL Miles Frazier (knee), CB D.J. Reed (hamstring), CB Amik Robertson (hamstring), LB Malcolm Rodriguez), RB Jacob Saylors (back), T Penei Sewell (ankle), RB Sione Vaki (ankle), TE Brock Wright (ankle).
Pregame position grades
Here’s how the teams match up heading into Sunday, based on health and how they’ve been playing recently. Performances will be evaluated postgame.
QB: Eagles A-, Lions A-
RB: Lions A, Eagles B+
TE: Eagles A-, Lions C
WR: Eagles A, Lions A
OL: Eagles B+, Lions B+
DL: Eagles B+, Lions B+
LB: Eagles A-, Lions A-
CB: Eagles B, Lions C
S: Eagles B+, Lions C
ST: Eagles A-, Lions B-
On the air
Eagles (7-2) vs Lions (6-3), Tonight, 8:20, Lincoln Financial Field.
TV: NBC: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark.
Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese, Mike Quick and Devan Kaney. Tico: Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and David Gerhardt. Westwood One: Ryan Radtke and Ross Tucker.
Betting odds
Spread: Eagles by 2.5.
Over/under: 46.5.
Money line: Eagles -145, Lions +125.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.