The Eagles lost one of their most disruptive defenders Sunday when linebacker Zack Baun headed to the locker room following a violent collision with Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who also left the game.
Baun initially went to the medical tent before heading inside, ESPN’s Tim McManus said. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane also reported that Baun went indoors following the collision. The reports did not identify Baun’s injury or establish whether he would return.
The collision interrupted a productive performance from Baun, who had two sacks and three tackles for loss before leaving, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark. His departure created an immediate adjustment in the middle of Philadelphia’s defense during the NFC
East matchup.
Smael Mondon Jr. replaces Zack Baun
Smael Mondon Jr. entered alongside Jeremiah Trotter Jr. after Baun’s exit, according to McLane. That pairing put Mondon in position to handle additional work while the Eagles awaited an update on their veteran linebacker.
Replacing Baun meant accounting for a defender who had already repeatedly disrupted New York’s offense. His two sacks and three tackles for loss illustrated his impact before the collision, and Philadelphia needed its replacement linebackers to maintain that production while handling their coverage and run responsibilities.
The immediate concern was Baun’s availability for the remainder of the game. His trip from the medical tent to the locker room left the Eagles waiting for more information about the injury and whether he could resume playing.
J.J. McCarthy also heads to the locker room
McCarthy also left following the collision. According to Ari Meirov, the Giants quarterback took a hit to his throwing shoulder, attempted to throw on the sideline, and then went to the locker room.
The sequence left both teams adjusting after the same play, with Philadelphia replacing a linebacker having a significant afternoon and New York turning to another quarterback. McCarthy’s reported shoulder issue added another development to a divisional game already altered by the departures.
The initial reports did not establish a diagnosis for either player. For the Eagles, the next update on Baun would determine whether Mondon’s expanded role was temporary or whether Philadelphia would need to finish the matchup without a defender who had already delivered multiple plays behind the line of scrimmage.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Zack Baun, J.J. McCarthy exit Eagles-Giants game after violent hit
