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The Eagles will be without defensive end Derek Barnett for the rest of the 2018 season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Barnett, 22, is reportedly having shoulder surgery and his season is over.
Barnett suffered his shoulder injury during the Titans game and he then missed the Vikings game. He returned to play against the Giants and Panthers, but apparently could not continue to go.
His second NFL season will end with 2½ sacks. Before the shoulder injury, Barnett had been the Eagles' best and most consistent defensive end.
Without Barnett, Michael Bennett at right defensive end. This will have a domino effect because it will be limited to the defensive end rotation, it will also be possible to reduce the number of snaps.
The Eagles were already thin at DT, having just Fletcher Cox, Treyvon Hester and Bruce Hector Healthy for the Panthers game. Even when Haloti Ngata returns, the Eagles still do not have a tone of depth there. Tim Jernigan is allowed to return to the game, but there is no indication he is close to being ready.
At least in the short term, this should mean an uptick in defensive snaps for rookie Josh Sweat and added importance on Chris Long's role. Sweat just played 15 defensive snaps all season.
Barnett, of course, was the Eagles' first-round selection last season. He was a rookie, but assumed a role in his second NFL season, even after the Eagles traded for a Bowler Pro in Bennett. Early this season, Barnett showed the ability to get away from the game.
Go ahead and add Barnett to the Eagles' ever-growing list of players on injured reserve:
Derek Barnett
Jay Ajayi
Mike Wallace
Mack Hollins
Rodney McLeod
Richard Rodgers
Destiny Vaeao
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