During a historic win against the Green Bay Packers, 40-33, new Eagles acquisition CJ Gardner-Johnson went down during the game Sunday night with a lacerated kidney. Though he is going to be out temporarily and not officially on IR, the team will still feel his absence.
#Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is out indefinitely after suffering a lacerated kidney in Sunday night’s win over the #Packers, per sources.
It’s a non-surgical injury. Testing is ongoing, so timetable still TBD, but it is not expected to be season-ending.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 29, 2022
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Gardner-Johnson posted a photo on Instagram Monday afternoon citing that he would “be back,” which sparked the assumption that he would miss time especially after getting off the field slowly during the game. The injury does not call for surgery, so he is expected to return either in the regular season or playoffs.
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The Eagles are thin on safeties, and Reed Blankenship proved last week he can step in and create turnovers. But that doesn’t solve the safety room situation since the team let Rodney McLeod and Anthony Harris walk in the offseason. What should the Eagles do?
Philadelphia could look to what the Rams did during their Super Bowl year and lean on their veterans for help.
On a recent episode of the Take Off podcast with John Clark, former Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins expressed interest in getting a call from Howie – if he was needed.
“I can still play. I’m still in shape. I’m still working out. It’s not far fetched. I’m still in it. I do enjoy my seat watching as a fan, but I could come in for a stretch”
-Malcolm Jenkins before CJGJ’s injury and he loves CJGJ
Podcast with Malcolmhttps://t.co/2DH3zYwU54 pic.twitter.com/0MCoFpWcpY
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) November 29, 2022
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“I can still play. I’m still in shape,” Jenkins said. “I do enjoy my seat watching as a fan, but I could come in for a stretch.”
Jenkins retired earlier last season after playing for the New Orleans Saints, but he’s still working out. He could practically still be a free agent.
The Los Angeles Rams did something similar to this in their Super Bowl run last season, calling defensive back Eric Weddle in for help down the stretch. This helped the Rams in the long run eventually getting a ring. The Eagles are not far off if they gave Jenkins a call for one last dance.
Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo/AP Photo
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