Curtis Latest Victim to Sports Hernia

For the third time in four years, a member of the Eagles offense has been hit with the dreaded sports hernia.  According to Comcast, Kevin Curtis is the latest to come down with the injury and will require surgery.  Andy Reid was uncertain when the wide receiver will be able to return.

This is potentially a huge blow to the offense, especially while Reggie Brown is out with a strained hamstring.  DeSean Jackson has looked excellent in the preseason, but they obviously were not counting on pressing the rookie into a situation where he must potentially play a key role in the offense.  With Curtis out for an extended period of time, and uncertainty swirling around Brown, the team has limited options.

There's been talk in recent days that Anquan Boldin continues to show his displeasure with Arizona and is now demanding a trade.  Despite the sudden rash of health problems, don't expect the Eagles to make a big move for the disgruntled wide out.  The Cardinals spent their first round pick on a cornerback and are happy with Rod Hood, so Lito and his contract demands are not a good bargaining chip, and the team is unlikely to overpay to the tune of one of their two firsts for another financially frustrated player.

So who will step up?  If Reggie Brown can get back on the field, he has the potential to have his best season yet, and I expect Jason Avant to see his biggest opportunity to date.  Most of all, the Eagles now hope Jackson can have an impact starting from day 1.

Comments

[dom]

this is a good time for boldin?

[theKrisheim]

"we are going for it, right now."

- jeff lurie

time to step up

[jd]

give'em a first round pick for next year. hell, we got 2.

[Sid]

What about Joe Horn?

[millertime]

@Sid: no

Boldin. Must happen.

[mike c]

Birds must pick up Boldin. Find a way to make it happen. If thhey pick up Joe Horn and say they "fixed" the wr problem, i will be extremely pissed. I wasn't that happy with the group even with Curtis.

It's simple. Get Anquan Boldin

[Mike]

Boldin is a Rosenhaus guy, which turns me off, but I'd love to see him in Eagle green. As for the rest of the guys, I like Avant and think he can step up. Not #1 or impact player material but certainly a guy who can make some plays if given opportunities, which it looks like he'll have now.

[Scott B]

@mike c.

Completely agree. Horn's best (which were mediocre) days are in his rearview mirror.

Boldin or bust

[Pete D]

Boldin won't happen. I don't see Rosenhaus telling his client to accep a trade to the Eagles when he knows his client won't get paid here.

[Dustin Diamond]

Terry Glenn? Eric Moulds? There are slim pickins out there right now.

[tw]

What is going on in the training rooms at NovaCare? There have been more high-profile sports hernias to come out of this team in the last three years than any other team in the NFL.

Boldin trade will never happen, but a guy can dream. Jason Avant, step right up!

[Dustin Diamond]

Just remembered that Sheldon Brown played through a sports hernia - Curtis needs to suck it up

[Esco]

I don't see what the problem is, I mean were LOADED at WR so what's the problem.....................

[David]

If Andy truly believes we are ok with G Lew and Baskett starting than he is delusional (or he broke into his sons' stash.

The ownership wants to talk about making a move...this is the time. Get Boldin NOW!

[will]

as much as we want a big receiver, i think the eagles have proven that they're ok with their 'system' guys and all is well in the west coast offense. plus, how could mcnabb benifit from one of the biggest, fastest most physcial receivers in the game? hmm.

everyone say it with me, D--fense..

[AZTerror]

Eh...I'll still take Brown, Jackson, Avant and Baskett over Stinkston, Trash, McMullin and FredEx.

[Russianator]

Reggie Brown drives me insane - the potential is there, the consistency, not so much. I'm oddly fascinated with Baskett, I think he can play, yet it hasn't been proven. Not a good situation any way you cut it....Joe Horn seems finished.

[Josh]

Everybody chanting "Boldin" needs to settle down. Unless things go seriously south in Arizona, like "situps in the driveway" type south, there is ZERO chance that the Cardinals will be trading him until the offseason, and if they do, they're certainly not going to trade him to a team that they'll be playing this season (us, the Cowboys, & the Redskins).

[willie]

O well, at least it was only our 2nd string wide reciever that got hurt... o wait.... he is our number one

[RyanA]

Boldin is the real deal. If they can get him for anything less than 2 firsts, they need to do it. Its that simple.

[Dustin Diamond]

I would take the People's Champ over Greg Lewis

[Justin]

I can see it now; "Todd Pinkston rejoins the Eagles." We're screwed.

[will]

no thanks on todd, ill take a chase utley bobble head doll at wideout instead.

[Russianator]

I'm pretty sure the chase utley bobblehead never lost the ball in the lights.....

[David]

To everyone underreacting about the Curtis injury...

How does this not make you worry? We just lost 77 catches from an already average recieving core. Greg Lewis isn't going to replace that! One thing we could try however is giving Westy more reps at WR...

[AZTerror]

@David

Problem is with Westbrook taking reps at WR, he's going to line-up in the slot, which is where Jackson will be most valuable. They're both similar players in terms of movement, Westbrook obviously having more strength (Somebody cue the Sheppard at WR rumors).

It comes down to Brown fulfilling his potential and continuing to be a downfield threat, Baskett being that physical posession guy (think Boldin), Avant making yards after catch, and Jackson opening up underneath.

The WRs all do things well, they just need to do them consistently. Boldin is not going to be worth either first rounder or giving up the CB security that we have right now. He just won't be that huge of an upgrade, assuming everyone consistently does what they do well.

[Ian]

I've never had what I prefer to more accurately call Gilmore's Groin, and if I did I'd give Gilmore his groin back, but it would appear that Curtis would be able to return in mid-to-late October, so keep in mind when cultivating your Philly Sports Doom that he shouldn't be out for the season.

I think DeSean should start on Day One, that they can do it without simplifying the offense, and if they can't they should simplify the offense. This could also get Avant into a groove. Getting Boldin or someone for a reasonable price isn't a bad idea, especially as Boldin would be signed to a long term deal.

[David]

@ AZEagle

I definitely respect your opinion, however I don't like the chances of Brown fulfilling his potential. AT this point he is a solid #2 guy, but he hasn't come sloe to showing the consistency to be a true #1 target.

As for the rest of the group, without Curtis to stretch the field, I don't see anyone who could step up to the level Curtis was at. G Lew is a solid #4, #5: nothing more. You say Baskett has size like Bolid, but he hasn't learned how to develop separation like Boldin does (because he has NO speed). Avant is entirely unproven, and DJax is still learning the system. I wouldn't expect him to start till at least week 5 or 6.

Look the fact is Lurie himself said we are making a run NOW. Well guess what, turns out we sure could use an elite WR, and I believe Boldin is available based on everything we're hearing out of Arizona (the Cards saying he isn't may just be them trying to ramp up his value). If that is the case, we have the cap room to sign him, why not go for it? He is a leader in the lockeroom, and an elite target for McNabb. We've all seen what Donovan can do when he has an elite WR to throw to.

All I'm saying is, if ownership truly is committed to winning, they'll give up a #1 and something else for Anquan and pay the man. If they do that, I truly believe we are a Super Bowl team.

[AZTerror]

I've lived in Phoenix for two years...the Cardinals ownership is nowhere NEAR that cerebral to try and ramp up his value through the media. They're also too stubborn to realize when they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Fitz is making $10mil a year, Q is at $4mil a year. If the OL is up to stuff, and McNabb is healthy, the team they have now is capable of contending for the Super Bowl on defense alone, in my opinion. There are obviously a lot of factors in the equation, but I don't think bringing in a WR right now, no matter how elite, is there biggest need. We're 40 some days into practice, and the Cards don't run an offense anywhere near as intricate as the Eagles. Reid needs to switch his thinking and start running in order to pass instead of passing to setup a screen.

[MPR529]

LET'S GO FLYERS!

LET'S GO FLYERS!