Evan Mathis to Miss 8 Weeks With MCL Sprain

Report From Philadelphia Eagles

Though the Eagles emerged victorious from the Week 1 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, they did not escape unscathed. Two players, linebacker Najee Goode and offensive lineman Allen Barbre, were placed on injured reserve Tuesday as a result of injuries suffered against the Jaguars. Goode suffered a pectoral injury, while Barbre, who started at right tackle, incurred an ankle injury.

All Pro guard Evan Mathis is expected to miss at least eight weeks with an MCL sprain. He’s currently slated to return against Carolina in Week 10. Photo credit – Philly.com

Meanwhile, starting left guard Evan Mathis will also be out for an extended period of time, though he is not lost for the season. Mathis was placed on the injured reserve/designated to return list, which means he can return to play after at least eight weeks on the list. So Mathis will first be eligible to return in Week 10, when the Eagles play the Carolina Panthers on November 10. Mathis will also be eligible to practice with the team after six weeks.

With three open roster spots, the Eagles promoted two players from the practice squad and signed veteran free agent offensive lineman Wade Smith. Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Kevin Graf and veteran linebackerEmmanuel Acho were signed to the active roster.

Smith (6-foot-4, 295 pounds) has appeared in 138 games (98 starts) with the Miami Dolphins (2003-06), New York Jets (2006-07), Kansas City Chiefs (2008-09) and Houston Texans (2010-13) during his 11-year NFL career. In the 2014 preseason, Smith, 33, appeared in three games for the Seahawks before being released as part of the team’s first round of roster cuts. Smith was one of eight Texans selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl after helping Houston to an AFC division title while paving the way for running back Arian Foster, who finished sixth in the NFL with 1,434 rushing yards. He started 64 consecutive games at left guard for the Texans during his four-year stint with the team and has experience at center, guard and tackle. Originally a third-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins, he was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at Memphis.

Acho (6-foot-2, 240) appeared in six games for Philadelphia in 2013 after being selected from the New York Giants practice squad prior to Week 8. Acho, 23, was re-signed to the Eagles’ practice squad on August 31 after being released as part of the team’s final roster cutdown. Originally acquired by the Eagles in a trade with the Browns during the 2013 offseason, Acho was a collegiate standout at the University of Texas, where he garnered third-team All-America and first-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior.

Graf (6-foot-6, 309 pounds) was signed to the Eagles’ practice squad following the preseason after originally joining the team as an undrafted free agent during the 2014 offseason. Graf, 23, started 39 games at right tackle at USC and earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors as a senior in 2013.