DeMeco Ryans came to the Eagles to be a three-down linebacker, but he’s not complaining because one of those downs has been taken away from him.
Coach Andy Reid confirmed on Friday that Ryans will be replaced in the nickel defense by Jamar Chaney, who will team with rookie Mychal Kendricks and veteran Akeem Jordan in obvious passing downs.
And even though Reid wouldn’t say why he made the move, it’s assumed it’s because Chaney is better in pass coverage. Naturally, Ryans wasn’t happy with the move, but he wasn’t about to rock the Eagles’ boat just a few days before the season opener, either.
“I’m fine with it,’’ he said. “Coaches get paid to make those kinds of decisions and they made it. I’ve rotated before, so it’s not new to me and it’s not hard. It was just a coach’s decision who they’re going to go with.”
Reid stressed the flexibility of his linebacker corps and said everyone on it will get a chance to contribute, and his players said they’re used to being moved around to different positions and different situations.
“It’s like second nature to us,’’ Jordan said. “We have a lot of guys with lot of versatility and that’s a good thing to have over the course of a long season.”
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSSportsNFLPHI.
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