Their best run stopper is out for the season. Their two-time Pro Bowl defensive end is out for at least a couple weeks. So is their four-time Pro Bowl left tackle.
Sundays loss to the 49ers was a disaster in a couple ways for the Eagles, who not only blew a 20-point second-half lead for the first time in 26 years but also lost three key starters and will be undermanned on both lines as they try to end their three-game losing streak.
Head coach Andy Reid said Monday afternoon on his WIP radio that that starting defensive tackle Antonio Dixon is out for the season with a torn triceps. Earlier in the day, Reid said Dixon was likely out for the year.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Defensive end Trent Cole (calf strain), who is third in franchise history with 60 sacks, including three this year, and left tackle Jason Peters (hamstring strain) are both expected to miss at least the Eagles next two gamesat Buffalo and Washington.
After that, the Eagles have a bye the weekend of Oct. 23 and then return on Oct. 30 for a Sunday night game against the Cowboys at the Linc.
Peters spent his first five seasons with the Bills before the Eagles traded for him after the 2008 season. Along with Kris Dielman of the Chargers, Andre Gurode of the Cowboys and Joe Thomas of the Browns, hes one of only four offensive linemen named to each of the last four Pro Bowls.
A day after they got hurt in the Eagles 24-23 loss to the 49ers, Reid called the injuries to both Cole and Peters fairly significant.
Fourth-year pro King Dunlap will start for Peters in Buffalo Sunday and almost certainly against the Redskins as well. Dunlap has started five games in his career, all last yeartwo at left tackle and three at right tackle.
He's kind of mad about not being able to play, going back to Buffalo, but I'll make it up for him, Dunlap said. Usually with hamstrings its two or three weeks, so Im thinking probably this week and then next week and then we've got the bye. The same thing happened last year. We've got a road game this time instead of being at home.
The Eagle are hoping defensive end Juqua Parker, who hasnt played since suffering a high ankle sprain in the Atlanta loss, can be active Sunday. They also expect to have defensive end Darryl Tapp back after he missed the last three games with a pec strain.
Another defensive end, Brandon Graham, last years first-round pick, is on the physically unable to perform list and not eligible to return to practice until after the bye week. Hes not likely to be activated for another couple weeks after he resumes practice.
Reid said Parker is very close to returning to practice. Tapp returned to practice last week but was inactive for the 49ers.
I expect other guys to step up and play, Reid said. When somebody goes down, the next guy steps in.
The Eagles re-signed defensive tackle Derek Landri Monday to replace Dixon, who will be placed on Injured Reserve.
Landri, 28, has played in 51 NFL games, starting 16all last year with the Panthers. He had a career-high three sacks and 31 tackles last year.
Landri had two sacks during the preseason but was released when the Eagles cut to 53.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com