Now, it gets dicey.
The Philadelphia Eagles could be without one of their top cornerbacks, James Bradberry when they host the Minnesota Vikings in their home opener on Thursday night. The Vikings boast not only one of the best receivers in the league, if not the very best, in Justin Jefferson but added a talented rookie in first-round pick Jordan Addison.
Bradberry is in concussion protocol after suffering a hit to the head late in the Eagles’ 25-20 season-opening win over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
“James is in protocol, and obviously you know once they go into that world, I can't comment on that or say anything about that, so we'll see how that goes,” said head coach Nick Sirianni in his day-after-game news conference.
Last year, Darius Slay followed Jefferson and it was an effective strategy. Jefferson had six catches but for just 48 yards as the Eagles intercepted quarterback Kirk Cousins three times on their way to a 24-7 win in a game that, like this one, was played in Week 2 in Philly.
Jefferson torched a good Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense for nine catches and 150 yards in the Vikings’ opener, though Tampa won the game, 20-17. Addison had s solid debut with four catches on six targets for 61 yards and a 39-yard touchdown.
The job of covering the rookie would fall to second-year cornerback Josh Jobe if Bradberry cannot clear the protocol in time for Thursday.
Jobe made a big play in Sunday’s win when he pushed Rhamondre Stevenson out of bounds before the Patriots running back could get both feet in bounds inside the 10-yard line inside of a minute to play and New England trying to win the game.
“We've got a lot of confidence in Josh,” said Sirianni. “That's why he's made our roster the last two years. I think he's a really physical corner who is long, strong, is able to just - when he gets his hands on you, he's able to control you.
“We've got a lot of faith in Josh, and regardless of who's in there, we know we can play the schemes that we want to play because Josh is our third corner, and your third corner has to play. There are times when he's going to have to play some.”
One of those times may come in the home opener against a team with two strong receivers that is desperate for a win after losing to the Bucs.
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