Ah, a quiet Monday evening with no terrible sports ne— wait, what’s that? Brandon Brooks is already out for the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2020 season with a torn Achilles?!
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Derrick Gunn was first to break the story and Brooks is already confirming the report:
So I guess now that news is out yes I tore my other Achilles but when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. I’ll be back and better than ever. Appreciate the love ✊
— Brandon Brooks (@bbrooks_79) June 15, 2020
Well, this is … pretty awful!
Brooks was already working his way back from a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2019 campaign in Week 17. Brooks was expecting to be recovered from that injury around this time of year. So much for that.
Brooks previously tore his other Achilles during the Eagles’ 2019 divisional round playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints. He impressively pushed through offseason rehab to make it back to the field in time for Week 1 last year. Brooks showed no lingering effects of being hurt as he played at a Pro Bowl level and earned a four-year contract extension worth $54.2 million.
The Eagles being without Brooks for 2020 is a huge loss. He’s one of the best guards in the game; Pro Football Focus had him graded first overall in 2019. This really sucks. The Eagles still have a talented offensive line without him but obviously not to the same extent.
It remains to be seen how the Eagles plan to replace Brooks. Larry Warford is on the market and has starting experience. The team could look to internal options like Matt Pryor (who filled in for Brooks late last season) or Sua Opeta or Nate Herbig or Jack Driscoll. We’ll see. Doug Pederson will be asked about this topic during his conference call with Eagles reporters on Friday morning.
One must also wonder what the future holds for Brooks, who turns 31 in August. He’s now suffered three significant injuries since January 2019. Will he be the same player if/when he returns in 2021? One can only hope.
The upcoming season is still months away from beginning — if it even happens at all — and the Eagles already have bad injury luck. 2020 has not been a fun year, huh?
Get well soon, Brandon.
