Kearse loss bad, but Eagles could miss Hood more

PHILADELPHIA -- That loss Sunday damaged the Philadelphia Eagles more than anyone imagined.

Roderick Hood is not an easy man to replace in Philly. (Getty Images)

First, they can subtract Jevon Kearse from the lineup. The star defensive end was lost for the season with severely sprained ligaments in his left knee. Second, they might have to subtract cornerback Roderick Hood for an indefinite period. He bowed out with an injury to the same heel he hurt a year ago, and nobody's sure how severe the injury is.

So which affects the Eagles more? It could be the loss of Hood -- provided, of course, he's out for a significant amount of time.

I know that sounds strange considering that Kearse was off to such a terrific start -- with 3.5 sacks in two games -- but the Eagles went into this season with 10 defensive linemen on their roster to protect themselves against setbacks like this.

That means they have options.

Juqua Thomas is one of them. Jerome McDougle is another. Trent Cole is a third. Thomas and Cole have six sacks this season, while McDougle has been inactive for both of the Eagles' games.

But Philadelphia is not as deep or as flexible at cornerback because it's already missing starter Lito Sheppard, out indefinitely with an ankle injury. Now the Eagles could be without Hood, who was the club's nickel back, which means two games into the season, they're reduced to their fourth cornerback.

Joselio Hanson, come on down.

A former defensive back with San Francisco, Hanson was pressed into emergency duty during Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss and played OK. But OK won't cut it in a division with Santana Moss, Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

Granted, the best ally for an inexperienced cornerback is a furious pass rush, and the Eagles have 13 sacks in two games -- nearly half their total of a year ago, when they sagged to 29. But look what happened when Hood bowed out in the first half Sunday: The Eagles sacked quarterback Eli Manning eight times, but he shredded them for 371 yards and three touchdowns.

More important, he punctured them for five completions of 20 or more yards, including the game-winning touchdown.

"That's a concern," said defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. "It kills you a little bit."

And here's why: If Hood is gone, it affects how aggressive the Eagles are on defense. In fact, it already has. Johnson confessed that it caused him to change his play-calling in Sunday's loss, with the club reluctant to leave Hanson or reserve defensive back Dexter Wynn -- who was signed as a free agent last week -- in single coverage.