It’s been a problem all season long and it’s gotten worse. And there’s little Eagles coach Andy Reid can do for his battered and beaten offensive line.
But Reid didn’t rule out one possibility -- if right guard Danny Watkins can return this week against Washington after missing the last three games with a sprained ankle, then rookie Dennis Kelly, who replaced Watkins in those three games, could be moved to one of the tackle positions.
Which one remains to be seen and it could be either, since both of Philadelphia's current tackles – King Dunlap and Demetress Bell -- have struggled mightily this season. That includes Sunday’s 38-23 loss to Dallas.
“There were some penalties there that they had, and a couple of rushes that got past them,’’ Reid said of his tackles’ play against the Cowboys. “They did some good things in there, but there were some things that you can’t do. The penalties obviously hurt us.’’
Reid was especially upset with Dunlap, who got called for an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty in the second half and while he stewed about that call on the sideline, he failed to take the field on time when the Eagles were lining up for a field goal attempt.
“I think he’ll tell you he was wrong,’’ Reid said. “He let his emotions from the penalty carry over and wasn’t paying attention. That was a mistake on his part.”
And that wasn’t the only mistake Dunlap and the rest of the O-line made Sunday. Bell had his hands full -- sometimes literally -- trying to block All-Pro LB DeMarcus Ware, who didn’t get any sacks, but did get in two good hits on the quarterback. Plus Bell was penalized twice for holding when Ware had him beaten.
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