August 6, 2024   2 MIN READ

Still Missing C.J.

Birds S Missing Another Practice

by

Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, one of the team’s most significant pieces on defense, didn’t practice Tuesday after leaving Monday’s practice with what the team called a shoulder injury.

Also out is veteran receiver Parris Campbell, who has battled injuries all throughout his career and is missing his third straight practice,

On the positive side, center Cam Jurgens returned to practice after exiting early Monday.

Gardner-Johnson, a standout on the 2022 Eagles team that went to the Super Bowl, came back to the Eagles this off-season after an injury-plagued 2023 with the Lions.

CJ Gardner Johnson--ITB

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Eagles S C.J. Gardner-Johnson is battling a shoulder injury keeping him out of camp practices.

He played just three regular-season games for Detroit lat year after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 and was limited to 12 games for the Eagles in 2022 because of a lacerated kidney.

Gardner-Johnson still managed an NFL-high six interceptions in 2022 but he and the Eagles couldn’t come to an agreement before free agency, causing the former Saints fourth-round pick to hit the open market and eventually settle for a one-year deal with the Lions.

Despite his injury-ruined 2023 in Detroit, Gardner-Johnson and the Eagles agreed this past offseason on a three-year deal worth $27 million, although it’s really structured like a one-year deal.

Without Gardner-Johnson, the Eagles’ safety picture is bleak because of depth issues.

Third-year pro Reed Blankenship is the other starting safety. Converted corner James Bradberry moved to safety this summer to rescue his career after a steep decline in 2023.

Second-year pro Sydney Brown, a third-round pick, is still making his way back from an ACL repair surgery and remains on active/PUP, keeping him out of practice. Avonte Maddox, a nickelback by trade, has practiced at safety,

Mekhi Garner and Andre Sam are fringe defensive backs, getting reps with the third teams, but Garner is also out of practice because of a hamstring injury.

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

About The Author

Avatar photo
Geoff Mosher is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years experience covering the Eagles, the NFL and other college and pro sports across several different multimedia platforms. He is co-host of the acclaimed Inside the Birds podcast, the leading podcast for intel on the Philadelphia Eagles, and co-host on 97.3 ESPN's drive-time show. He has also hosted on Philadelphia's sports-talk station, 94.1 WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic. Geoff was the lead Eagles Insider from 2012-2015 for NBC Sports Philadelphia, where he wrote for the website and appeared daily on the station's TV shows, including Quick Slants, Philly Sports Talk, Eagles Pregame/Postgame Live and Eagles Extra. Prior to joining NBC Sports, Geoff worked the Eagles beat from 2005-2012 for the Wilmington News Journal, where he broke several major news stories and also won an Associated Press Sports Editors award under the category of Breaking News for his coverage of the sudden death of Phillies play by play broadcaster Harry Kalas. Geoff has appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter, NFL Network, NBC Sports Network, FOX29, 6ABC and has conducted interviews for Sirius/XM NFL radio and countless other radio stations across the country.

Comments are closed here.