Malcolm Jenkins: 'We Need To Change'
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles have enough issues to deal with heading into their game against the Jets on Sunday. Add injuries on defense to the list.
The 0-2 Eagles are in desperate need of a victory against the Jets, but they will be shorthanded on defense when they head to the Meadowlands. Linebacker Kiko Alonso is sidelined with a knee injury, while Defensive Lineman Cedric Thornton is out with a broken hand. Defensive Coordinator Bill Davis says Linebacker Mychal Kendricks may also miss Sunday's game.
"Mychal is day to day with a hamstring," said Davis. "There's an outside chance we pick him up this week, but it will be hard for him to get back. He has a shot at doing it."
The injuries to the linebackers means more time for rookie Jordan Hicks. the linebacker made his presence felt in the loss to Dallas on Sunday, as he saw his first action of the season. Hicks says he will prepare the same way this week as he has the two previous weeks.
"I've been approaching each game like I'm the one that's going to go out there and play," Hicks said. "Luckily for me, that's the way I did approach it this past game. I was able to capitalize on some plays and understand what they were trying to do. Nothing's going to change moving forward."
The Eagles are trying to move forward after a dreadful performance against Dallas. The defense kept the Eagles in the game before the Cowboys were able to pull away in the second half. Safety Malcolm Jenkins was eager to get back to work as the Eagles began preparations for the Jets.
"It's obvious that we've got work to do," said Jenkins. "I think when you go through the setbacks that we had, you look forward to the opportunity to get better. We need to change what's going on. We can't play the game today, but we can focus on the work that will show up in the game this week."
With the offense struggling, the Eagles may need their defense to play even better this week. Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur insists the talent is there on the offensive unit. It is simply a matter of execution by his players.
"We just didn't execute at a good enough level," Shurmur said. "We didn't execute well enough to consistently run the ball well, and we've just got to get better."
