Eagles kicker Jake Elliott was knocked out of tonight’s Sunday Night Football matchup with the Cowboys while making a tackle on a kick return.
The contact was helmet to helmet, and while Elliott originally remained in, he eventually left after missing a 34-yard field goal attempt.
Coming out of halftime, NBC’s Michelle Tafoya reported that with Elliott out, Philadelphia linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill would serve as the kicker if necessary:
The Eagles scored on their opening drive, and they did indeed go for two, successfully. Grugier-Hill did launch the ensuing kickoff, however:
After forcing a Cowboys punt, the Eagles promptly scored another touchdown, and once again went for two. Elliott’s injury offers an interesting playcalling lab tonight for the Eagles; there’s a reasonable argument that NFL coaches should perhaps go for two every time, and should go for it on fourth down more often than they currently do.
Of course, maybe trusting Grugier-Hill to make a field goal isn’t that crazy after all; he forced a touchback on his next kickoff.
