GREEN BAY, Wisc. — The Eagles expected to have all three of their big-name inside linebackers back for Saturday night's third preseason game against the Packers, but Kiko Alonso was a surprise scratch.
Alonso didn't feel right in warmups and sat, wearing a black Eagles T-shirt on the sideline as DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks both returned to action.
"Kiko tried to run around, his leg's bothering him a little bit," Chip Kelly said after the Eagles' 39-26 win (see Instant Replay). "He was trying to run around a little bit pregame and it just didn't feel 100 percent."
The leg injury is unrelated to the ACL tear Alonso suffered about 14 months ago as a member of the Buffalo Bills, Kelly said. The head coach described it as tendinitis and said Alonso will be fine.
Minor injury or not, Alonso's absence creates a bit of worry heading into the regular season. He's one of the Eagles' most crucial defensive pieces this season, and he's yet to take a snap in the preseason.
Alonso was eased back in at the start of camp before suffering a concussion on Aug. 4. He returned to practice on Aug. 19.
MCL sprain for Lane
Eagles budding star right tackle Lane Johnson suffered a sprained left MCL blocking on Tim Tebow's two-point conversion try in the first quarter (see 10 observations).
NFL
Neither Johnson nor Kelly are worried about the knee injury, with the head coach offering a flat "No" when asked if it was a concern.
Where was Parkey?
The Eagles went for two after their first touchdown Saturday and failed. They went for two after their second touchdown and failed again.
After scoring a third time in the first quarter, they went the safer route and tried for an extra point, but Kip Smith was wide right.
Backup kicker, camp body, whatever you want to call him, Smith made every kickoff and PAT attempt Saturday night in Green Bay because Cody Parkey was unable to go.
Parkey tweaked his groin in practice this past Tuesday and sat for precautionary reasons.
"It's not that serious," Parkey said. "If it was a regular-season game I would have went, but (special teams) Coach (Dave) Fipp told me to just take it easy and freshen up.
"I would describe as not normal, put it that way. Tuesday it felt a little out of norm. Wasn't anything serious, just taking extra care, being precautionary."
Parkey went 5 for 7 on field goals in the Birds' first two preseason games, missing from 34 and 55 yards. He also missed an extra point.
The kicking game was one thing the Eagles did not have to worry about improving this offseason because Parkey was 32 for 36 (89 percent) as a rookie with four makes from 50-plus yards.
Parkey's preseason has been a bit shaky, but at least he won't have to deal with weather in the season opener Sept. 14 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Parkey missed just one kick indoors last season.