Kiko Alonso just hasn’t looked like himself.
He hasn’t looked like the standout linebacker that burst onto the scene in 2013. He hasn’t looked like the guy the Eagles thought they were getting when they traded LeSean McCoy for him.
“When you give up that many rushing yards, I can’t say I played very well,” Alonso said Monday when asked about his performance in the Eagles’ 45-17 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles gave up 283 rushing yards in the loss.
Sunday was Alonso’s third game back from a knee injury that sidelined him for four games. Alonso’s knee hasn’t been listed on the team’s official injury report since the week leading into the Dolphins game. (On Monday, Alonso was a full participant in practice, listed with an ankle injury.)
Head coach Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Bill Davis have said the team is still easing Alonso back from the knee injury. On Monday, Kelly said he isn’t sure Alonso can play a full game yet but said the team isn't thinking about shutting Alonso down for the season.
Alonso, on Monday, claimed his knee isn’t holding him back.
“No,” he said. “My knee feels really good.”
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Alonso, 25, said his knee feels “100 percent” but admitted he’s still receiving treatment for it. He has been running in the pool and icing it.
After playing 29 and 30 snaps in his first two games back from the injury, Alonso played 54 in the loss to Tampa Bay. He had one tackle.
In 2013, Alonso had a breakout rookie season. He had 87 tackles, four interceptions and two sacks. He missed the entire 2014 after tearing his ACL and suffered a knee injury just two games into the 2015 season.
Alonso was asked if when he watches film, he sees himself as the same player he was in his rookie year. He said “yeah.”
Do Alonso’s teammates think he looks rusty?
“Rusty? No, not really,” safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “Compared to what? He hasn’t really been out there much. There’s not a huge sample size to really judge him against. I thought he played decent but nobody really played well this past week.”
Aside from lackluster play, Alonso made a big mental mistake on Sunday. In the third quarter, the Eagles were penalized for having too many men on the field during the Bucs’ opening drive in the second half.
The penalty before the 3rd-and-4 play, gave the Bucs a first down and they capped the drive with a touchdown to put them up 35-14.
“That was on me,” Alonso said. “I didn’t get the personnel. We were in Dime. I should have been off the field.”