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  4. title => "There's growing optimism that Zach Ertz will play Sunday"
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  6. article_body => "<p>The Eagles are still holding out hope that Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz will be able to play in their playoff game Sunday, but they won\u2019t know until tomorrow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As of Friday morning, Ertz had not yet been cleared for contact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re waiting on a few doctor results tomorrow,\u201d head coach Doug Pederson said. \u201cIf things go favorably, he\u2019ll play. If they don\u2019t, he won\u2019t.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With a fractured rib and lacerated kidney, Ertz will need to be cleared by doctors before he\u2019s allowed to take the field. Ertz will be a limited participant in Friday\u2019s practice, as he has been all week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sources tell NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark that there is growing optimism Ertz will be able to play, and that he has already passed several stringent tests.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Eagles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Eagles<\/a> game statuses: <br><br>OUT: Nelson Agholor (knee) <br><br>Questionable: Lane Johnson (ankle), Zach Ertz (ribs, back) <br><br>Everyone else is expected to play.<\/p>&mdash; Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DZangaroNBCS\/status\/1213193680196161537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p><strong>Lane Johnson:<\/strong> Johnson is still dealing with a high ankle sprain that has forced him to miss the last three weeks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLane is still working,\u201d Pederson said. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what. He\u2019s a tough guy. He really wants to play in this football game. We\u2019re going to find out more today and see where he\u2019s at at the end of the day before we put out a report. He\u2019s working to try to play in this football game.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Johnson was not at the beginning of Friday's practice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With Johnson, it\u2019ll basically come down to if he can feel good enough to be a better option than Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who has started in his place. The fact that Johnson's ankle is this big of a question mark this late in the week is probably not a great sign.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If Johnson does play, the Eagles can use either Big V or Matt Pryor at right guard in place of Brandon Brooks, who is out for the season. If Johnson can\u2019t play, Big V would start at right tackle and Pryor would play right guard. That was the combination that finished the Week 17 game in New York.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Miles Sanders:<\/strong> After missing the first two days of practice this week with an ankle injury, Sanders was practicing&nbsp;on Friday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMiles is good,\u201d Pederson said. \u201cHe\u2019ll get some work in today, see where he\u2019s at. But he\u2019s been feeling good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sanders has a low ankle sprain but said Friday that he will be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/miles-sanders-absolutely-ready-go-his-first-nfl-playoff-game\" target=\"_blank\">\"absolutely\" ready to go Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Boston Scott, Jordan Howard and newcomer Elijah Holyfield will also be a part of the rotation.<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/eagle-eye-philadelphia-eagles\/episodes\/d6f0a48a-6c64-4f13-bedf-b88e88b3a6f3\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<h3><strong>More on the Eagles<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/after-missing-last-year-nfl-playoffs-run-rodney-mcleod-savoring-every-moment\">After missing last year's playoff run, McLeod savoring every moment<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/5-matchups-watch-eagles-host-seahawks-wild-card-round-carson-wentz-russell-wilson-marshawn-lynch-nfl-playoffs-jim-schwartz\">5 matchups to watch as Eagles host Seahawks in Wild Card Round<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/eagles-vs-seahawks-wild-card-round-tv-schedule-storylines-game-time-carson-wentz-marshawn-lynch\">Everything you need to know for Eagles-Seahawks<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/two-time-super-bowl-champ-malcolm-jenkins-crucial-message-his-teammates-playoffs-seahawks\">Jenkins\u2019 crucial message to his teammates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/boston-scott-explains-slowest-spin-earth\">Scott explains \u2018the slowest spin on Earth\u2019&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Eagles

Eagles

The Eagles are still holding out hope that Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz will be able to play in their playoff game Sunday, but they won’t know until tomorrow. 

As of Friday morning, Ertz had not yet been cleared for contact. 

“We’re waiting on a few doctor results tomorrow,” head coach Doug Pederson said. “If things go favorably, he’ll play. If they don’t, he won’t.” 

With a fractured rib and lacerated kidney, Ertz will need to be cleared by doctors before he’s allowed to take the field. Ertz will be a limited participant in Friday’s practice, as he has been all week. 

Sources tell NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark that there is growing optimism Ertz will be able to play, and that he has already passed several stringent tests.

Lane Johnson: Johnson is still dealing with a high ankle sprain that has forced him to miss the last three weeks. 

“Lane is still working,” Pederson said. “I’ll tell you what. He’s a tough guy. He really wants to play in this football game. We’re going to find out more today and see where he’s at at the end of the day before we put out a report. He’s working to try to play in this football game.” 

Johnson was not at the beginning of Friday's practice. 

With Johnson, it’ll basically come down to if he can feel good enough to be a better option than Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who has started in his place. The fact that Johnson's ankle is this big of a question mark this late in the week is probably not a great sign. 

 

If Johnson does play, the Eagles can use either Big V or Matt Pryor at right guard in place of Brandon Brooks, who is out for the season. If Johnson can’t play, Big V would start at right tackle and Pryor would play right guard. That was the combination that finished the Week 17 game in New York. 

Miles Sanders: After missing the first two days of practice this week with an ankle injury, Sanders was practicing on Friday. 

“Miles is good,” Pederson said. “He’ll get some work in today, see where he’s at. But he’s been feeling good.”

Sanders has a low ankle sprain but said Friday that he will be "absolutely" ready to go Sunday.

Boston Scott, Jordan Howard and newcomer Elijah Holyfield will also be a part of the rotation.

More on the Eagles