Miles Sanders unlikely to play Sunday but Eagles haven't ruled him out

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It appears the Eagles have dodged a bullet with Miles Sanders’ injury, although Nick Sirianni said it’s unlikely the 3rd-year running back will play this weekend.

Sanders suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter of the Eagles’ loss to the Raiders Sunday in Las Vegas and was carted off the field.

Sirianni said Monday the Eagles haven’t ruled Sanders out for their game Sunday against the Lions in Detroit.

“Miles will probably be down,” he said. “We’re week-to-week with him, so it’s a stretch for him to be up this week, but we’re not ruling anything out yet.

Once Sanders left the game Sunday, the Eagles used Boston Scott (seven carries), who hadn’t played on offense this year, and rookie Kenny Gainwell (five carries).

Sirianni indicated the Eagles will likely activate former Pro Bowl RB Jordan Howard from the practice squad.

“We have Jordan on the practice squad as well, we feel really good about him,” Sirianni said.

Howard, who averaged 1,123 rushing yards with the Bears from 2016 through 2018, was the Eagles’ leading rusher in 2019 before he suffered a serious neck injury in Week 9. He has only 35 carries since then – 28 with the Dolphins early last year and then seven after returning to the Eagles.

Howard, 26, has 3,955 career rushing yards with 34 touchdowns and a 4.2 average as well as 83 receptions for 634 yards.

Sanders, who has been under-utilized all year, finally had a significant role early in a game Sunday and rushed six times for 30 yards before getting hurt on the Eagles’ second drive. He has just 63 carries in seven games but is averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

In parts of three seasons, Sanders has rushed for 1,985 yards and nine touchdowns and has 97 catches for 824 yards and three more TDs. His 4.9 career rushing average is tied for 3rd-highest among running backs with at least 400 carries since 2019 (behind Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry).

The Eagles also have Jason Huntley on the practice squad.

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