The Philadelphia Eagles finally made two moves to their defense that desperately needed to be done.
Rookie linebacker Casey Matthews was benched in favor of another rookie, Brian Rolle. This move came a week after Matthews was demoted from middle linebacker to weak-side linebacker.
Rolle has received more playing time with each passing week and the sixth-round draft pick will make his first career start on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Eagles also benched free safety Kurt Coleman for last year’s second-round draft pick, Nate Allen.
Allen played well as a starter last season, becoming the first Eagles rookie to intercept two passes and record two sacks since 1987. But a torn patellar tendon in week 15 ended his season early.
When he showed in preseason that he was not fully recovered from the injury, the Eagles named Jarrad Page the starter. But after poor outings by Coleman the last few weeks, Allen, who says he is completely healthy, was renamed the starter.
The moves should help an Eagles defense that has allowed 13, 35, and 29 points in the three games so far this season, including back-to-back four-touchdown games by Matt Ryan and Eli Manning.
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I wonder if Casey will fight for his job and prove he was a great draft pick?