Eagles 'Fully' Expect Alshon Jeffery to Return from Calf Injury vs. Packers

The Philadelphia Eagles should be getting a boost ahead of Thursday night's clash against the Green Bay Packers, with head coach Doug Pederson telling reporters Tuesday he expects wideout Alshon Jeffery to be available to play.

"I fully expect and anticipate Alshon, you know, to [be available]," Pederson said, per Tim McManus of ESPN. "He was limited yesterday and hopefully he can go full today and be ready to go."

Tight end Dallas Goedert is also expected to be available for the Eagles, though speedster DeSean Jackson isn't expected to return from his abdominal strain.

"DeSean is probably a little further away. His injury is a little bit more week to week and so he's probably not going to be there this week," Pederson told reporters. "But listen, the season's young, we'll get these guys healthy, and hopefully we can get things turned around soon."

Jeffery, 29, has missed the majority of the past two games, both losses, with a calf injury. The absence of both he and Jackson has been a major impediment for an Eagles team that saw its skill-position players drop at least seven passes in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Injuries have remained a major theme of the season too, with cornerback Ronald Darby confirmed to be out "for a little while," as defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz told reporters Tuesday. He joins key defensive players like defensive tackles Malik Jackson and Tim Jernigan and cornerbacks Cre’Von LeBlanc and Jalen Mills on the shelf.

So getting back anybody right now is a major plus for the Eagles, especially a key offensive producer like Jeffery. He was solid in his first two seasons with the Eagles, catching 122 passes for 1,632 yards and 15 scores in 29 games. 

And aside from one infamous drop in last year's 20-14 divisional-round loss to the New Orleans Saints with the Eagles driving for a potential game-winning score, he's been a sure-handed option for the team. After Sunday's dropfest, that will be a welcome addition.