PHILADELPHIA -- Six-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins and two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard sat out the Philadelphia Eagles' game Sunday against the Detroit Lions with injuries.
Dawkins missed practice all week after injuring his neck in Monday night's 20-12 loss to Washington. Sheppard missed his second consecutive game because of a knee he injured in the season-opening loss to Green Bay.
William James started in place of Sheppard and Quintin Mikell replaced Dawkins, who had not missed a game since 2004. The patchwork secondary was facing a potent Detroit offense that has averaged 321 yards passing through two games.
The Lions also put veteran tight end Dan Campbell on injured reserve because of an elbow injury suffered in last week's 20-17 overtime win over Minnesota. Detroit signed rookie Rudy Sylvan from the practice squad to fill the open roster spot. Sean McHugh replaced Campbell in the starting lineup.
Eagles tight end L.J. Smith, who had surgery on his injured groin Friday morning, was also deactivated. Smith had offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and suffered a groin strain in training camp. Slowed by the strain this season, Smith had just four catches for 26 yards in two games.
Defensive end Kalimba Edwards sat out for the Lions with an ankle injury and was replaced in the lineup by Corey Smith.
The third quarterback for the Eagles was A.J. Feeley with rookie Kevin Kolb backing up Donovan McNabb. Dan Orlovsky was the third quarterback for the Lions.
Running backs Aveion Cason and T.J. Duckett, cornerback Tony Beckham, linebacker Anthony Cannon and guards Stephen Peterman and Manny Ramirez were deactivated for the Lions.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
