With Saquon Barkley coming to Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday, the Eagles' defensive line can use all the help it can get.
Well, the Eagles got some of that on Tuesday as defensive tackle Tim Jernigan was activated from the Non-Football Injury list.
Acquired from the Ravens in a 2017 offseason trade, Jernigan was a huge component of the Eagles' Super Bowl run as someone who could win one-on-one battles up front as All-Pro Fletcher Cox draws double-teams. Jernigan played 48 percent of the snaps and had 33 tackles, nine for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 18 QB pressures and hits last season. He added another seven tackles and two QB pressures and hits in the playoffs.
Jernigan underwent offseason surgery for an undisclosed injury and has not played a snap in 2018. He was cleared to practice on November 5 and can make his season debut this Sunday.
The No. 2 run defense for most of the season, the Eagles are now 12th after allowing 171 rushing yards to Dallas in Week 10 and 173 this past Sunday to the Saints. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said on Tuesday that the run defense was the most disappointing aspect of the loss in New Orleans.
"We knew we would have challenges in coverage, we knew it was tough to get turnovers, we knew it was tough to get sacks, but we put ourselves, scheme-wise, in position to stop the run, and we didn't get that done for a second week in a row," Schwartz said.
Barkley gained 130 yards on the ground last month against the Eagles, which was his season high until he surpassed that with 142 yards two days ago in a win over Tampa Bay.
To make room on the active roster, the Eagles waived defensive tackle T.Y. McGill. The Eagles' defensive tackle rotation now features Cox, Jernigan, Haloti Ngata, and Treyvon Hester. Michael Bennett and Brandon Graham can slide inside on pass-rushing downs as well.
The Eagles also made some roster moves involving the practice squad. Josh Andrews was signed to the Colts' active roster, so the Eagles brought in center Anthony Fabiano and also added cornerback Jeremiah McKinnon.
