Kamu Grugier-Hill, who is widely believed to have a good chance of becoming a starting linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019, suffered a Grade 3 MCL sprain in practice on Saturday.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the news.
#Eagles LB Kamu Grugier-Hill suffered a Grade 3 MCL sprain in practice today, sources say. That’s not the best news but also not the worst for the projected starter who has been impressive of late. He’ll likely miss some regular-season time but should be back relatively early.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 3, 2019
“Some regular-season time,” as Garafolo said, is noticeably vague.
Injury expert David Chao weighed in and provided a more specific timetable for Grugier-Hill to recover:
Typically this is a 6-8 week injury and no surgery. @Eagles will just carry him on actove roster untill ready to play. https://t.co/MrYA8gU8kk
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) August 3, 2019
A six-week time frame would mean that Kamu Grugier-Hill would miss two regular-season games. Eight weeks? Grugier-Hill would miss four games.
The Eagles' first two games of 2019 come against the Washington Redskins (Week 1) and the Atlanta Falcons (Week 2). Philadelphia's next two opponents are the Detroit Lions (Week 3) and Green Bay Packers (Week 4).
Realistically, the Eagles would love to get Grugier-Hill back for the Packer game in Week 4. Philadelphia should be able to manage against the mediocre Redskins and similarly limited Lions. The Falcons' 2019 offense, however, figures to be loaded. Aaron Rodgers early in a season — before accumulating a lot of wear and tear — is a scary proposition for any NFL defense.
The Eagles have to know that Grugier-Hill is almost certain to miss the Falcons game. Getting him back before playing the team's second potent opponent — the Packers — would represent a reasonable scenario at this point.
Kamu Grugier-Hill has authored an inspiring story. He was a sixth-round draft choice by the New England Patriots in 2016. The reality that the Eagles were merely considering him as a 2019 Week 1 starter speaks to his evolution as a football player… and to the work ethic which put him in position to become a starter.
Grugier-Hill has been dealt a setback, but if this injury heals properly, Grugier-Hill will enter the month of October with a chance to start for the Eagles' defense, and take the next step in his promising NFL career.
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