Doug Peterson Provides Hopeful Injury Update on Eagles RB Miles Sanders Following Ankle MRI

The Philadelphia Eagles, already down their top three wide receivers, were bit by the injury bug once again on offense in Week 17. Breakout rookie running back Miles Sanders injured his ankle in the regular season finale against the New York Giants.

Eagles fans were expecting the worst, but head coach Doug Pederson was cautiously optimistic, saying that the Sanders is "going to be okay" heading into a matchup against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs.

An MRI showed #Eagles RB Miles Sanders has a low-grade low ankle sprain, source said. Inflammation is the issue right now; coach Doug Peterson said his star rookie is "going to be OK," a good sign for Sanders' chances of playing in Sunday's playoff against the #Seahawks.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 31, 2019

After backing up Saquon Barkley at Penn State for a few years, Sanders showed enough as a starter to warrant Philly picking him in the second round of the 2019 draft. He rewarded their trust in him by piling up 818 yards on the ground at a clip of 4.6 yards per carry. Counting his receiving numbers, Sanders totaled 1,327 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns in his first season in the league, presenting an argument for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Jordan Howard might be back in a limited capacity by the time the game gets here, but he can't replicate Sanders' ability as both a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield for Carson Wentz.

Since 1965 only 2 players have had 800 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving, and a minimum of 4.5 yards/carry in their rookie season:
- Saquon Barkley 2018
- Miles Sanders 2019

(Found via @pfref) pic.twitter.com/Z4lk2SaNaN
— Thomas R. Petersen ? (@thomasrp93) December 31, 2019

Sanders quickly went from afterthought to indispensable member of the Philadelphia backfield, and playing against the Seahawks without him and star guard Brandon Brooks could be a death sentence.