The Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff hopes and dreams came to an end following Saturday evening’s 38-24 loss to the Washington Redskins, handing Washington the NFC East crown for the first time since 2012.
Tensions are high surrounding the team following their second-straight season of no playoffs under Chip Kelly, and according to Philly.com, even some of the team’s players started throwing in the towel early on Saturday night. Offensive tackle Jason Peters, a bedrock on the team’s offensive line, injured his elbow early in the game, pulled himself out of the game, and refused to come back in despite his elbow not needing further attention.
A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Sunday a report originated by radio and TV personality Howard Eskin — Peters took himself out of the loss to Washington that doomed the Eagles to miss the playoffs, once the score got lopsided. He had suffered a hyperextended elbow early, the source said, but Peters was healthy enough to play down the stretch. The source said Peters “didn’t want the risk of getting hurt for a team that is not going to the playoffs.”
Peters did not seek further treatment for his elbow after the game or on Sunday, the source said.
The 33-year old Peters was named to his eighth Pro Bowl earlier this week, and missed two games earlier this year because of back spasms and a pinched nerve. The only season in which he didn’t make the Pro Bowl as an Eagle was 2012, when he missed the entire year due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
However, he could be a cap casualty for the Eagles going into the 2016 season – he has a $9.3 million cap hit next year and releasing him would cost the Eagles just $3 million. Given his age and growing discontent, a change of uniform could be the best thing for both parties. However, given how much Philadelphia’s offensive line struggled in 2015, moving on from Peters could be a tough proposition for Kelly (if he’s still at the helm of the team, that is) and company.
