'Wrap It Up!' Eagles' Haason Reddick Reveals Injury Plan for Week 1 vs. Patriots
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Eagles star Haason Reddick confirmed Monday that he will play in Week 1 at New England but the veteran edge rusher was also somewhat hesitant when discussing how the protection he will need for his surgically repaired right thumb might affect him.
Reddick, who had 19 1/2 sacks last season through Super Bowl LVII, suffered a torn ligament in the thumb at practice on Aug. 15.
He wasn't that concerned about the injury at the time and even talked to reporters after the session before swelling indicated to him and the team that the injury should be checked on further and the issue was confirmed.
"I had messed up the hand during practice. It wasn’t bad," Reddick told SI.com's Eagles Today. "That’s why I was able to finish practice. We just went to get it looked at because of the swelling that was around it.
"That’s when we figured, ‘Hey, better to go get surgery now and make it stable for the season.’ Just protect it. I had enough time to get it done. That way I could get back for Week 1. So the progression has been really well."
Reddick underwent surgery two days after the injury and the the early word was always that he indeed would be ready for the season opener.
That seems to be the case but Reddick acknowledged he will need to play with some sort of protection for the thumb and adjust to whatever that might be.
"Something over it to protect it during game time," Reddick said when asked about protecting the thumb. "... we’ve been working on some different options to see what works best. That’s what I’ll do for the season."
Reddick hasn't missed a game in his first six NFL seasons and that streak will continue, but it's relevant to question whether he can be the same kind of terror he was last season when he developed into a second-team All-Pro as one of the leagues' best pass rushers.
Reddick isn't doubting himself, however.
"I'm just taking it one day at a time," he said. "I ain't down about it, not sad about it. What happened happened. I'm going to adapt, move forward, and go out there and still try to put my best ball on tape."
Reddick has overcome many adversities in his career to date. To him, a torn ligament in a thumb is just a blip on the radar.
"To me, it’s a thumb. Wrap it up. Get back out there and play ball," he said.
-Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? Click Here.
Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Check out the SI.com team page here
-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
