PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles’ plans for Andre Dillard to upgrade Jason Peters in the left take collapsed Thursday when Dillard suffered a bicep injury in practice and undergoing end-of-season surgery.
A person familiar with the injury confirmed the diagnosis to the USA TODAY Network after Derrick Gunn first reported the injury and the NFL Network first reported the severity. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose medical information.
Dillard is the Eagles’ second starting offensive lineman to suffer a season-ending injury this offseason. Right guard Brandon Brooks tore his Achilles while working out in June and is expected to miss the season.
Dillard, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2019, entered the medical tent Thursday after individual training and did not return.
Peters, left of the Eagles for more than 11 seasons, signed with the team last month, but to upgrade Brooks on the right guard.
Although the Eagles never identified him, Peters’ 38-year-old renewal may also have been a guarantee for the left if Dillard was in trouble or injured.
Clearly, using Peters is the most likely way to update Dillard. Peters had been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times in his last 11 seasons.
If Peters returns to the left tackle, Matt Pryor is expected to return to the right guard. Pryor played three games last season to update Brooks. These are the only Pryor games in the NFL.
This week, however, Pryor has been playing right tackle in place of Lane Johnson, who is listed as day to day with a lower body injury. The Eagles could also use Nate Herbig, who’s in his second season but has never played in an NFL game, at right guard.
The Eagles are unlikely to join Jordan Mailata or rookie Prince Tega Wanogho in the left take to keep Peters on the right guard. After all, the left shot has the task on the blind side of protective quarterback Carson Wentz.
Mailata, in its third season, has never played in an NFL game and struggled to maintain that position at education camp. Wanogho was the Eagles’ sixth-round pick.
The Eagles are free on Friday, and coach Doug Pederson and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland have an additional day to expand a plan.
Dillard had been lost two days earlier this week with what the team called a upper body injury. Dillard returned for Tuesday and had finished every Wednesday before injuring himself on Thursday.