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PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles defense has been marred by injuries since the start of the season.
It only got worse on Tuesday.
Defensive end Derek Barnett is undergoing shoulder surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team confirmed the surgery and Barnett’s season status on Wednesday.
The second-year defensive end suffered the injury in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans. He missed practice the following week, as well as the Eagles’ Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but returned in Week 6 and has played 68 combined snaps the last two weeks.
The 2017 first-round pick had 2.5 sacks and 17 quarterback pressures this season.
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Here are three thoughts about what the loss of Barnett means for the Eagles
1. Michael Bennett will step in: The Eagles were as deep at defensive end as any position on the roster, in part because of the presence of three-time Pro Bowler Michael Bennett. The Eagles acquired Bennett in the offseason from the Seahawks, and he’s been one of the team’s best defensive players, albeit in a limited role. He has 19 quarterback pressures — seventh-most in the NFL — and three sacks. Now, he’ll likely replace Barnett in the starting lineup, as he did against the Vikings when Barnett sat with the injury.
2. Lacking defensive depth: With the loss of Barnett, the Eagles essentially are devoid of true depth at any position on defense. Injuries have decimated the secondary, and defensive tackle is one of the biggest problem areas on the roster outside of Fletcher Cox. At defensive end, the Eagles are down to three players who are at least 30-years-old in Brandon Graham, Chris Long and Bennett, as well as a fourth-round rookie who has barely played this season.
3. Sweat time: The loss of Barnett means that aforementioned fourth-round selection will be taking on a larger role. That is, Josh Sweat, the freakish rookie from Florida State. Sweat has only played eight snaps this season and didn’t record any stats. Sweat was viewed as a first-round talent by many, but injury questions — he had a gruesome knee injury in high school — dropped him to the fourth round. He’s considered a raw pass-rushing talent that the Eagles, ideally, would’ve been able to keep out of a significant role for his first season, but that’s out the window barring a trade or free agent signing of some sort.
Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ZackBlatt. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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