Eagles lose 2 linebackers as Kendricks released, ex-UD star injures knee

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles saw their linebacker depth diminish significantly on Tuesday as they released Mychal Kendricks just before Paul Worrilow suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Worrilow, the former Concord High and University of Delaware star, was going through his first practice as an Eagle when he tore his ACL, according to the NFL Network. The injury came about an hour after linebacker Mychal Kendricks was seen leaving the NovaCare Complex.

The Eagles confirmed later Tuesday that Kendricks, the Eagles' second-round pick in 2012, had been released.

That wasn't much of a surprise. The Eagles have tried to trade Kendricks in each of the last two offseasons. This spring, they signed free agent Corey Nelson in March and added Worrilow, who had been a full-time starter in the middle for three of his four years with the Atlanta Falcons from 2013-16.

Worrilow played for the Detroit Lions last season and started eight games.

Kendricks was also due to count $7.6 million against the Eagles' salary cap, a high price to pay for someone expected to play about 25 to 30 percent of the defensive snaps. The Eagles, like many teams, play a majority of the game on defense with an extra defensive back in place of a linebacker.

For the Eagles, middle linebacker Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham are the two linebackers who stay on the field for just about every play. Kendricks was the one coming off the field.

Worrilow was signed mostly as a backup to Hicks, who has missed at least seven games with injuries in two off his three seasons. Hicks suffered a torn Achilles last October and is working his way back.

Worrilow suffered the injury while covering running back Donnel Pumphrey over the middle in practice. He collided with Nelson and immediately went down to the ground, clutching his knee, pounding his fist on the turf inside the Eagles' practice bubble. 

His teammates then knelt on the ground as Worrilow was attended to. He was fitted with an air cast before getting carted off the field.

"We were out there, playing a zone coverage, and we ended up breaking at the same time on [Pumphrey]," Nelson said. "All three of us collided. 

"It sucks, man, especially for the first practice. It's kind of a bummer to experience something like that ... It happened so fast. You can't really stop it or prevent it from happening."

Nelson said Worrilow's leg went into his back. 

"I turned around and the next thing you know he was on the ground," Pumphrey said. "It was like he was trying to get out of the way of colliding with me, and Corey was doing the exact same thing, and that turf. I just hate for that stuff to happen."

It was a tough blow for Worrilow, who signed with the Eagles as a free agent in April. He was originally signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2013 after starring at the UD for four seasons.

Kendricks, meanwhile, had been a full-time starter beginning in his rookie season. He had three interceptions, 14 sacks and five fumble recoveries in his six seasons.

Wentz practices some

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz took part in individual drills during Eagles practice on Tuesday while wearing a brace on his left knee. Wentz tore two ligaments in his knee last December against the Rams.

He has not been cleared for team drills, but certainly the fact that he's on the field going through some drills is an encouraging sign in his recovery process. Wentz has not been cleared to take part in team drills.

"Any time you’re rehabbing from any sort of injury, you gotta be careful," Wentz said. "There are days you feel great and you want to push it more, and there are days it’s a little sore, a little tired. It’s just part of the process of coming back from an injury. You gotta trust what the trainers are saying, what the doctors are saying, and keep being smart with it."

In addition, left tackle Jason Peters, recovering from a torn ACL suffered last October, also took part in individual drills, as did Hicks.

Sproles, Bennett absent 

Eagles coach Doug Pederson said veteran running back Darren Sproles and defensive end Michael Bennett are the only two who aren't showing up this week for OTAs, which are voluntary.

Sproles is recovering from ACL surgery last fall. He has often missed OTAs to work out on his own. Pederson said he's not concerned about Bennett, who is in his first season with the Eagles. Bennett spent the past several seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. 

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.