Eagles hoping to get secondary healthy for Redskins game

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis expressed optimism that injured cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Eric Rowe would be able to play Saturday in a key game against the Washington Redskins.

''We're confident we'll have both of them, Saturday,'' Davis said, Tuesday. ''I'm confident they'll be there.''

Maxwell, a big free agent singing last offseason, suffered a shoulder/collarbone injury in Sunday's 40-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and underwent an MRI on Monday.

The team did not reveal the results of the MRI.

After the game, Sunday, Maxwell said X-rays came back negative.

''There's nothing broken so that's good,'' Maxwell said. ''It hurts. But we'll just see how it goes. We'll see where I'm at come Saturday.''

Rowe, the rookie second-round pick, suffered a concussion in the same game and was going through the NFL's concussion protocol. He has to be cleared to be able to return to practice and then before he can play.

Neither player practiced Tuesday, although both watched from the sideline. Davis may be counting on both of them for Saturday night's game.

If the Eagles beat the Redskins, they can win their second NFC East title in three years with a win the following week against the New York Giants.

If they lose to the Redskins, they would miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year and for the fourth time in the past five years.

''Right now it's day to day, but I'm hopeful we'll have both of them,'' Davis said. ''We'll just see what happens. We'll play the guys who are healthy. But I'm confident.''

The Eagles finished Sunday's loss with E.J. Biggers at one corner and Jaylen Watkins at the other. Safety Walter Thurmond had to move to corner for about a dozen snaps, as well, according to Davis.

Biggers, a seven-year veteran, has started a total of eight games the past three years and most of that was when his team opened in sub packages.

Watkins, a 2014 fourth-round draft pick, was signed off the Buffalo Bills practice squad on Nov. 27.

Next in line would be undrafted rookie Denzel Rice, who has been active for just three of the team's 14 games this season and has not played on defense.

''I thought those guys (Watkins and Biggers) did all right the other night,'' Davis said. ''Jaylen showed good speed; he ran with their guys. He didn't let anything go over the top of him and actually had a chance for two interceptions.''

NOTES: Two other players sat out Tuesday's practice. Special teams player Seyi Ajirotutu (ankle) will likely miss Saturday's game. Defensive tackle Bennie Logan (ankle) also missed Tuesday, but has been bothered by the ankle injury for two weeks and has not missed a game.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed:www.twitter.com/AP-NFL