Troubling news out of Philadelphia.
Jason Peters, the Eagles' All-Pro left tackle, ruptured his Achilles tendon this week, the team announced Friday. The timetable for his recovery is unclear, but his 2012 season appears in jeopardy.
Peters suffered the injury to his right leg on Tuesday while training in Texas. The five-time Pro Bowl selection is scheduled to undergo surgery on April 2 at Philadelphia's Rothman Institute.
During the team's ultra-rocky 2011 campaign, Peters remained a steady presence, starting 14 games. How the Eagles proceed remains to be seen, but it's clear why agreeing to terms on Friday with King Dunlap on a one-year contract became a priority. Still, Dunlap is a downgrade, with just seven starts in 38 games since being drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
"Jason is one of the best, if not the best, offensive tackles in the NFL," coach Andy Reid told the team's official website Friday. "We don't know when he will return to the field and we will not speculate on a timeline. We are just going to let the surgical process and the rehabilitation process play itself out.
"Howie and I will sort out the roster situation for the offensive line. We are glad to have King (Dunlap) back as a part of our offensive line, and we will continue to scan the free agent market, also knowing the draft is less than a month away."
Todd Herremans, who transitioned from guard to right tackle last year, is another veteran presence on the team. ProFootballFocus.com's research pointed to Herremans having his best game last season in his lone start at left tackle. Winston Justice is out of the picture, traded to the Colts earlier this month.
It will be interesting to see how this affects Philly's draft plans, if the gap is not addressed in free agency. There are a handful of quality tackles in this year's class, but up until now, the position wasn't a top need for the team. Trust that Michael Vick will eye this situation closely.
