It's time to pull the plug on Jason Peters at right guard

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Pro Football Hall of Famers don’t get inducted as members of a specific team but if they did, Jason Peters would undoubtedly go in as an Eagle if and when his time comes.

Peters is one of the greatest players in Eagles history. Absolutely.

That’s why it’s so hard to watch Peters these days.

Because we should all want to remember him as a dominant left tackle, the guy who went to seven Pro Bowls as an Eagle and who played the position at a higher level than just about every other human in the world before him.

That’s now what we’re seeing anymore.

Instead, we’re seeing a 38-year-old right guard who is fighting through injury and struggling mightily when he’s on the field. Honestly, it’s hard to watch Peters like this.

For the Eagles, it’s time to thank Peters for his service and tell him you look forward to seeing him when you induct him into the team’s Hall of Fame in a few years. Really, it’s beyond time.

Since coming off IR earlier this season, Peters has been dealing with a lingering toe injury that forced him out of Sunday’s loss to the Packers after just 36 snaps. And in those 36 snaps, he gave up a sack, 3 hurries and 5 pressures in his second start at right guard.

Really, this is the exact kind of start he had at left tackle a few weeks ago that eventually led to the Eagles’ decision to move him inside and play Jordan Mailata at the position Peters held down for a decade.

When Brandon Brooks went down before the season and the Eagles signed Peters to replace him, I was on board. And when Andre Dillard went down in training camp and the Eagles paid Peters to move to left tackle, I was still on board. Because at the time, I thought the Eagles were real playoff contenders and I thought Peters had something left in the tank.

I was wrong on both accounts.

That has become increasingly apparent throughout this season. It was never clearer than on Sunday when, in a 30-16 loss to the Packers, Peters was the main culprit on a line that gave up 16 total pressures.

For Peters, this game was as bad as the game against the Browns, his last at left tackle. But this time there’s nowhere else to move Peters except to the bench. Because of the Eagles’ loyalty to their older players, it’s hard to imagine that happening.

But Peters is hurt and his injury will reportedly need surgery after the season. That’s the best way out of this. Shut him down because of the injury, say he needs surgery, and move on. Play Nate Herbig or Matt Pryor at right guard and just get through the last four games of this miserable season. Will Herbig or Pryor be any better? I don’t know and I don’t care. I’d just rather get the young guys those snaps so they don’t go to waste.

And, honestly, I just don’t want to watch Peters like this anymore. When I hear the name Jason Peters, I want to think of the great player he once was, not the shell of that guy who held on too long.

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