Jason Peters Injury Leaves Wentz Vulnerable
While the Philadelphia Eagles secured the league’s best record in its Week 7 win against the Redskins on Monday Night Football, the surging team also lost a key component of its top-rated offensive line. Left tackle Jason Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowler, tore his ACL and MCL when a Redskins player was blocked into his right knee during the third quarter, and his season – perhaps even his career – is over. It’s not the worst injury the Eagles could suffer as a club, but losing Carson Wentz’ blindside protection certainly isn’t something to simply shrug off. Peters will be difficult to replace, and a rushed or batter Wentz is not something Philly wants to deal with going forward.
In the near term, the Jason Peters injury isn’t terribly foreboding, as the Eagles’ next game is at home against the hapless, winless San Francisco 49ers, and most sportsbooks have Philadelphia as double-digit favorites. They’re -13 at Bovada right now, with a moneyline set at -850. Adding to expectations of a dominant Eagles performance is the game’s 46-point over/under, as bettors seem confident that Wentz’ will be able to effectively deal with any hiccups in his pass protection.
Despite the Jason Peters injury, BestUSASportsbooks.com thinks the Eagles are still +700 to win the 2017-2018 Super Bowl, one spot behind overall favorite New England at +325. Wentz’ odds to win league MVP have also actually climbed a bit, now sitting at +250, just behind the Patriots’ Goat. However, things could certainly change if Eagles opponents start pounding the left side down the stretch, where Philly still has several meetings against strong teams like the Cowboys, Seahawks, Rams, and Raiders.