Jerome McDougle’s star-crossed career suffered another blow when the former first-round draft pick got hurt – again.
The fifth-year defensive end injured his right triceps in the Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason opener and likely will miss the rest of the season.
“He was competing like a lot of other guys,” defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said Wednesday. “It’s too bad. He was having a good camp. But that’s part of the game.”
The Eagles traded up and selected McDougle out of Miami with the 15th pick in the 2003 draft. He missed the first eight games of his rookie year with ankle, knee and hip injuries, sat out five games in 2004 and spent the following season on the sideline after he was shot in the abdomen by robbers.
McDougle played in 14 games last year, though he didn’t get much time on the field. He finished with one sack and 13 tackles.
Running back Ryan Moats, a third- round pick in 2005, also could be done for the year with a broken ankle suffered in Monday night’s 29-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Coach Andy Reid said Moats will have surgery soon. Moats has 347 yards rushing and three touchdowns in two seasons, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
While McDougle and Moats probably are headed for injured reserve, the status of all-pro guard Shawn Andrews remains uncertain. Andrews has an injured right ankle, the same one he hurt in Week 1 of his rookie season in 2004. Andrews, who is in a walking boot and rehabbing, made it seem as though the injury is far more serious than the team is letting on.
“It’s tough. What the specialist told me was a tear-jerker,” Andrews said, declining to elaborate because Reid doesn’t allow players to discuss their injuries. “It’s out of the doctor’s hands. It’s out of my hands. I just have to rehab it.”
Said Reid: “He’s making progress. He will not play this week. We’ll see how he does next week.”
49ers: Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore’s broken hand should be perfectly healed in time to begin defense of his NFC rushing title. That doesn’t make training camp any easier for a player who’s already had more than his share of injuries in his football life.
“I just feel awkward with this on my hand,” Gore said grimacing as he stood in front of his locker after missing another practice. “I’m still working, but it’s different without practice. I’ll be all right. I’m a football player, so I’ll be cool.”
Gore has been out of regular action since his hand got caught in a teammate’s pads during a blocking drill on the second day of training camp.
Cardinals: Outside linebacker Chike Okeafor probably will miss the season after undergoing surgery to reattach a torn biceps tendon.
Darryl Blackstock and Calvin Pace are competing to replace Okeafor in the starting lineup.
Offensive tackle Oliver Ross, meanwhile, was getting a second opinion about his torn triceps tendon. That injury also could require season-ending surgery. Levi Brown, a first-round draft pick out of Penn State, has moved into Ross’ spot.
Jets: New York signed first-round pick Darrelle Revis, ending the touted cornerback’s lengthy holdout.
Revis, who finished with 129 tackles and eight interceptions at the University of Pittsburgh, was selected 14th overall after New York traded up to draft him. With Revis’ signing, the only first-round holdout is top overall pick JaMarcus Russell, the LSU quarterback selected by the Oakland Raiders.
Raiders: Coach Lane Kiffin returned to practice after missing the previous two days while being hospitalized for a viral infection.
Lions: Detroit placed backup fullback Alan Picard on injured reserve and signed former Broncos punter Micah Knorr.
