Eagles to be without Gainwell, Bradberry, Blankenship for Thursday night

Eagles to be without Gainwell, Bradberry, Blankenship for Thursday night

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without three key starters for their Thursday night home opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Running back Kenneth Gainwell, cornerback James Bradberry, and safety Reed Blankenship have all been ruled out due to injuries.

Gainwell suffered rib injuries in the Eagles' Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. He was listed as questionable on the injury report all week, but the Eagles decided to rule him out on Wednesday.

Bradberry is in concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the Patriots game. He has not yet been cleared to play, and the Eagles are not sure if he will be available for their Week 3 game against the New York Giants.

Blankenship also suffered rib injuries in the Patriots game. He was listed as questionable on the injury report all week, but the Eagles decided to rule him out on Wednesday.

Eagles try and shake off lackluster opener against Vikings despite key injuries.

The Eagles' depth at running back will be tested without Gainwell. Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny are the other running backs on the roster, but they have combined for just 10 carries this season.

The Eagles' secondary will also be without Bradberry, who is one of their top cornerbacks. Josh Jobe is expected to start in his place.

The Eagles will need to find a way to overcome these injuries if they want to win their home opener. They will face a Vikings team that is coming off a 34-3 win over the Detroit Lions.

**Impact of Gainwell's absence**

Gainwell's absence is a big blow to the Eagles' offense. He was the team's leading rusher in Week 1, with 54 yards on 14 carries. He also caught four passes for 20 yards.

Gainwell is a versatile player who can run the ball between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield. He is also a good blocker, which is important in the Eagles' running game.

Without Gainwell, the Eagles will likely rely more on Scott and Penny. Scott is a more traditional running back who is better at running between the tackles. Penny is a more explosive runner who can make plays in the open field.

The Eagles will also need to get more production from their wide receivers. DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor are the team's top two receivers, but they have not been as productive as the Eagles would like.

**Impact of Bradberry's absence**

Bradberry's absence is also a big blow to the Eagles' defense. He is one of their top cornerbacks and is known for his physical play.

Bradberry will be replaced by Josh Jobe. Jobe is a young cornerback who is still developing. He had a solid game against the Patriots, but he will need to play well against the Vikings' high-powered offense.

The Eagles' other cornerbacks, Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox, will also need to step up in Bradberry's absence. Slay is a Pro Bowl cornerback, but he has not been as effective this season. Maddox is a solid player, but he is not as experienced as Bradberry.

The Eagles' secondary will be tested against the Vikings' wide receivers, Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Jefferson is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and Thielen is a reliable target for quarterback Kirk Cousins.

**Impact of Blankenship's absence**

Blankenship's absence is a blow to the Eagles' special teams. He is the team's starting free safety and is known for his strong tackling.

Blankenship will be replaced by Sydney Brown. Brown is a young safety who is still developing. He had a solid game against the Patriots, but he will need to play well against the Vikings' offense.

The Eagles' other safeties, Rodney McLeod and Marcus Epps, will also need to step up in Blankenship's absence. McLeod is a Pro Bowl safety, but he is coming off an injury. Epps is a solid player, but he is not as experienced as Blankenship.

The Eagles' special teams will be tested against the Vikings' offense. The Vikings have a strong running game and a good passing attack.

**Outlook for the Eagles**

The Eagles will be facing some tough challenges on Thursday night. They will be without three key starters and will be playing against a good Vikings team.

However, the Eagles have a talented roster and are always dangerous at home. If they can get their offense going and play good defense, they have a chance to win the game.