NFL LIVE | Eagles D will be ‘dogfight’ even without Jalen Carter! – Dan O. WARNS Herbert & Chargers

NFL LIVE | Eagles D will be ‘dogfight’ even without Jalen Carter! – Dan O. WARNS Herbert & Chargers

with some breaking news. Adam Sheper, what more can you tell us? Well, Lamar Jackson once again was a non-participant in practice today and over the last four weeks, he’s missed time for a knee injury, an ankle injury, a toe injury, and today once again an ankle injury. However, the Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Mon told reporters that he does expect that Jackson will play on Sunday in a big matchup versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a huge game for both sides. We’ll see if Lamar is back out there, but that is the full expectation that despite the fact that he didn’t practice today that Lamar Jackson will once again be out there on Sunday. All right, thanks so much to Adam. He’s with us throughout this show as we get you ready to start week 14. Dan’s here, Peter’s here, Jax here. Dan, how concerned are you that Lamar clearly not 100% heading into a massive matchup against the Steelers this weekend and their offense has been struggling? Yeah, I’m very concerned. It’s also another reminder of the concern for me, not only this week, but moving forward to watch Lamar play this year. It’s it’s odd. It’s difficult just to see the lack of execution and high level ability. And so now it’s just another reminder like he’s not even remotely close to healthy. The misses, the decision, the holding on to the football, the lack of accuracy, the being tackled one-on-one. I also think this we’re trying to figure out maybe why Derrick Henry’s not running as well. This was one of the best zone read combos when Lamar’s gone to zone read last year. They’re not running it nearly as much nor nearly as effective. And so, yeah, this continues to be a huge story. And now the question mark is, is he going to be somewhat healthy enough for them to try and overcome his lack of health, let alone the the hole that they started the season in? Yeah, I think to your point, Todd Mon, they said they’re expecting him to be there. So, I I’m not concerned about him healthwise. I think he’s going to be on the football field. I think what you alluded to after that is the bigger concern when you’re watching him. Yes. You haven’t seen the same explosion when he’s out being able to run guy run by guys. What’s more concerning is his inability to hit targets in the open. Like that’s been the part of Lamar this year where you’re just like, dang, I’m not used to seeing that. The play action pass, all of those different things where he was absolutely balling. You haven’t seen that. So for them offensively, you’re not getting the best out of Zay Flowers because the offensive line isn’t protecting Lamar long enough for him to be able to make those plays because I think when it comes to him at the quarterback position, part of what makes him great is his ability to hold on to the football. So whether that is him rushing for 30 yards or holding on to make a 30 yard pass, that part of the offense hasn’t been there this year. And some of that has to do with the offensive line, but I think a lot of it is just has to do with Lamar just not playing as well. Last week there were flashes though. He ran the ball well last couple times. He looked good. He had a long pass that was, I thought, a ridiculous offensive pass interference call that should have been a touchdown. Isaiah likely fumbles the ball through the end zone on a play that could go a million different ways. And if we did it 10 times, probably would happen to it’ be a different outcome nine out of 10 times. And they were that close to being in that game with Cincinnati. He’s going to play. I I hate saying it like so definitively. Like the playoffs start today. If they hadn’t started already last week when they lost, like Lamar’s going to play against Pittsburgh. We’ll see what version we get. Is there concern? Absolutely. At 41 touchdowns and four interceptions last year, he looks like a not even Yes. Not even the same guy. Obviously, health concerns. Yo, Jay Mack, I want to ask you, so if you’re Pittsburgh, don’t you sit there and go watch the same tape we watch? We see these misses to guys that are open. Wouldn’t you be more apt to, All right, we’re going to play some more man coverage. We’re going to try to shrink the windows. We’re not going to give open voids. We’re going to go after him cuz he’s not making guys miss or run running away from guys nearly as much as he was. Yeah. But for Pittsburgh, you got to stop the run first coming off a game against Buffalo. I think you’re absolutely right with that man coverage. Go after Lamar. He already is the most blitz quarterback in the league. So teams are doing that already. The issue for them is you’re going to have to stop Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell. If I’m Todd Monkin with Lamar being banged up, I am running the ball 30 to 35 times in this game and making Pittsburgh have to stop my run. Yeah, I do want to throw that back up there, the AFC North playoff picture, because I think it’s interesting. discerning viewer, if we can get it back up, will notice that the numbers are almost exactly the same as their chance to win the North. That’s because the only realistic path any of these teams have to the playoffs is by winning the division. See that? It’s it’s really important. They all would need a whole lot of help to sniff a wild card spot. That’s just why, again, to Peter’s point, Lamar’s going to play. They play they play each other twice. Why do we have the Browns up there, man? Negative, man. Browns move the needle, Jason. That’s they’re part of the division. All right, some more breaking news out of Philadelphia. Adam, what’s going on with the Eagles? Well, Laura, Jaylen Carter, their outstanding defensive tackle, underwent procedures on both his shoulders. Now, for those wondering what those procedures were, no, it was not surgery. It was therapeutic intervention, if that means anything to all the medical professionals out there. Therapeutic intervention on both shoulders. He’s out for Monday night’s game. It’s possible he’ll miss multiple weeks at this point in time, but it was important for him to get his shoulders right for the stretch run, the playoff bush, and if and when the Philadelphia Eagles make it to the playoffs. It’s a big loss for the Eagles defensive line. But after the last game when they played the Chicago Bears, Jaylen Carter said that he didn’t feel like himself wasn’t playing as effectively as he would like. And on Monday this week, he had the therapeutic intervention on both shoulders that he believes will allow him to come back better and stronger later this season. Yeah, sounds kind of nice. Uh but either way, we’ll see when he comes back. A reminder, too, that on the other side, the Chargers, of course, Justin Herbert, we’re still trying to figure out if he’s going to play. He had the surgery on his hand. Jac, when it comes to how Carter impacts that Eagles defense, how big a deal is this? It’s a huge deal. And he said he didn’t feel like himself. He didn’t look like himself in that Bears game. And you think about it, they had two 100yard rushers in that game. Jaylen Carter doesn’t only impact the defensive line and whether it’s Jaylen Phillips next to him or whoever it is, he also impacts the linebackers. His ability to take up double teams allows those guys to run free and be able to make tackles. What Vic Fanjo, the defensive coordinator, what’s he want what he wants to do on the defensive side of the ball, keeping the safeties back, protecting the deep shot. Having a guy like Jaylen Carter up front allows everybody else to do their job just a little bit better and a little bit easier. So, not having him in the lineup is going to be a huge difference for them. Do you have to bring more pressure? Do you have to blitz guys more? Those type of things Fanjo is going to have to figure out for the game this week. I mean, it’s enormous. It’s This is the Chiefs losing Chris Jones. Th this is when the Colts lost to Forest Buckner. That’s a big deal. How’s that defense been looking ever since he’s been gone? So, it’s enormous when this guy’s on the field. This is a top three to top five defense. Look at left versus right. Okay, plays on the field. We’re talking five yards per play, four yards per rush. Sack percentage way up. Way up. Now on the right when he’s not been on the field. This is this year. This is this year. Almost a yard more. Over a yard per rush more. almost a yard per rush more, but the pressure on the quarterback. And so that’s the bottom line, the thing is the thing that stands out. That would be bottom five in the NFL. So this is quite frankly when Jaylen Carter’s on the field, it’s a top five defense. When Jaylen Carter’s off the field, it’s a bottom five defense. That’s how impactful this injury is. Feels like the world is melting in Philadelphia and it’s all coming down and it’s like you’re looking up what’s next. The truth of the matter is we focus so much on AJ Brown and Saquon and of course Devonte Smith, but that team, their strength has always been the two lines of scrimmage, defense and offense. Losing Lane Johnson last week and now you’re like, “Hey, Fred Johnson, you got to just be amazing somehow. Go and do it to losing Jaylen Carter this week against a very good interior for the Chargers. And they like to run the football and they might have a Marian Hampton back. So, this could be a really interesting loss for them. I look at two names. I’m looking at their names right now. Kai Robinson and Byron Young. Next men up. There you go. I mean, listen, there has been a lot of depth on that Eagles defense, but either way, they’re not Jaylen Carter. I do want to quickly talk about that Monday night game. You mentioned Amari and Hampton expected potentially Justin Herbert, but without Jaylen Carter, how does that change specifically in Monday night’s matchup? How they may approach the Chargers? Well, you just mentioned Amari Hampton may be back in that lineup, but even if he’s not, Kamani Vidal has been all since he took over. He’s had now 300 yard games since uh since Hampton went out with an injury. So, their dedication to running the football, they’re going to feel good about that. Jamari Sier was their left tackle that they started coming out of their by-week at that left side. They’re feeling really good now going in and trying to make a playoff run. And if Justin Herbert is not in there and Trey Lance is the quarterback, you better believe they’re going to focus on running the football. Yeah. And Greg Roman, who’s the offense coordinator for the Chargers, obviously comes from Baltimore, heavy quarterback run. So I would be s I’d be surprised if Justin Herbert doesn’t play. They I think the Chargers and him understand how big a deal it is. I broken hand. I know. It’s just like he’ll play. God broke his hand. Warrior. I was in the building the game Sunday and he goes into the locker room and you can see him holding his hand a certain way. The whole rest of that game, his hand stayed like this the entire time. Didn’t bend his fingers. Didn’t do anything. He didn’t go under center for the rest of the game. was literally handing the ball off going this way with his right hand. He’s tough as nails. Like I think he’s going to be these two teams identical records at 8 and four. They’re trying to make these playoff pushes. I hear you on on what we already saw. I mean, that’s the indicator of why you think he might play because he was still in the game even dealing with this and had to get the surgery. We’ll keep an eye. That’s going to be a big game. Dan will be doing Monsters Inc. uh broadcast on that. Big Dom, defensive tackle. Let’s go. Don’t screw it up. My kids will be watching. Love it. We’re getting started on NFL Live. The Lions host the Cowboys tonight in a massive playoff game. Well, it’s not a playoff game yet, but it has implications. Okay, Jac will talk about the new and improved Cowboys defense. I like that, Dan. Let’s just call it a playoff game. Plus, Jamar Chase was happy to have Joe Burrow back last week. Dan and Jac to the touch

NFL LIVE | Eagles defense will be ‘dogfight’ even without Jalen Carter! – Dan Orlovsky WARNS Herbert & Chargers