The Redskins may have to face the Eagles Sunday without their top offensive weapon.
Jordan Reed, the Skins’ 26-year-old playmaking tight end, was missing at the start of practice on Thursday after missing practice Wednesday with a suspected concussion.
Reed has already suffered five concussions going back to 2011 at Florida.
“We’d love to have him out there,” Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “He’s obviously a great player for us. We’ve talked about it all year long how depth is going to be important and we’re going to need other players to step up.
“It’s kind of part of the way the NFL season works and how long of a year it is and how much of a grind. That’s where we’ve just got to have other guys be ready to go.”
Reed had 87 catches for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns last year and has 33 catches for 316 yards and two TDs this year, second-most of all NFL tight ends behind Greg Olsen.
Reed and Olsen are the only tight ends with at least 50 yards in every game they’ve played so far this year.
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Reed had 14 catches for 166 yards and two TDs last year against the Eagles.
The Redskins do have veteran Vernon Davis on the roster, but the two-time Pro Bowler with the 49ers is now 32 and has just 10 catches for 94 yards this year.
Davis, who had a 100-yard game against the Eagles in 2010, has nearly 6,000 career receiving yards but hasn’t been over 400 yards in a season since 2013.
According to the Washington Post, Reid suffered concussions in 2011 and 2012 at Florida, Week 9 and Week 11 of the 2013 season with the Redskins and Week 4 of last year. The last two came against the Eagles.
Reed is the fastest tight end in NFL history to 200 receptions, reaching that plateau in 38 games.
“Yeah, I mean he’s a very talented player, he’s shown that,” Cousins said. “We love to have our best players out on the field with us. But like I said, you understand that it’s a part of playing in this league that injuries are going to happen. Guys are going to be in and out and it gives a great opportunity for other players to step up.
“As we’ve said all along, we have several talented players who can help fill that gap.”