Parker will miss his second game with a hip flexor.
The Eagles' final injury report of the week came out Wednesday morning, and in total it includes seven players: Jorrick Calvin (back), Nick Cole (knee), Trevard Lindley (knee), and LeSean McCoy (shoulder) are all probable to play. Riley Cooper (knee) and Asante Samuel (knee) are questionable, and Juqua Parker (hip) has been ruled out.
So far this season, every player listed as probable has played. So there's no reason to worry about Calvin, Cole, Lindley or, most importantly, McCoy. They will all be suited up and good to go.
Parker, as we expected after not practicing all week, is out. But Cooper, who also did not practice all week, is only questionable. He's not expected to play, but it's looking like he will be a game-time decision.
Samuel is the key here. He practiced all week on a limited basis and, although he's listed as questionable, he does expect to play. The "questionable" listing means that, like Cooper, Samuel will be a game-time decision.
With Parker out, Brandon Graham will make his second consecutive start and his fifth of the season. Graham had a decent game against the Chicago Bears as he pulled Jay Cutler down once, but he's going to have to get pressure much more consistently if the defense is going to slow down the Houston Texans' passing offense.
If Cooper cannot go, head coach Andy Reid has already said that Chad Hall will get the nod. Hall has been active for a couple games this season while guys were banged up, and he's lined up at receiver and running back. Hall can also return punts in a pinch, so having him on the field gives Reid flexibility in a lot of different areas.
If Samuel winds up missing his second game, we will once again see Joselio Hanson. Hanson got abused by the Bears receiving corps, so seeing him lined up against the much bigger Kevin Walter or Andre Johnson is enough to give Eagles fans nightmares.
Hopefully Samuel is ready to go and Hanson can take back his natural spot in the slot. With Samuel and Dimitri Patterson on the outside and Hanson in the nickel, they should at least be able to contain Walter, Johnson, and Matt Schaub.
The Eagles play the Texans Thursday night on NFL Network at 8:20PMEST.
