Parkey & Gardner to IR, Sturgis signed, Vandervelde back

With Gardner now likely down for the year, the Birds will turn to Matt Tobin, who entered Training Camp in competition with Gardner for the starting role, but couldn’t provide any kind of serious competition.

“I feel ready”, Sturgis said. “I got an MRI, and it showed I tore all three muscles in the groin, which is obviously a long-term injury”. Sturgis is 20 of 32 (62.5%) on field goal attempts from 40 yards or more for his career.

Nick Novak, Billy Cundiff and Shayne Graham were amongst the other five names being tried out, but ultimately it was the fifth round pick for Miami in the 2013 NFL Draft that won the spot on the team.

Parkey said he didn’t know if his latest injury was the result of his original groin pull never healing completely. “I got a lot of reps in the offseason at right guard”.

Parkey had converted three of four field goals this season, with the miss proving critical in Philadelphia’s season-opening loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

“He did a good job”, Shurmur said of Tobin Tuesday morning at the NovaCare Complex prior to practice.

Gardner’s injury also effects the rest of the rotation on the offensive line.

“Dennis is a bigger guy”, Shurmur said of Kelly.

“I spent the majority of past year at guard”, Kelly said. “It’s just mostly getting all of the assignments right and all of the steps and footwork with the differences between playing inside and outside”. Defensive tackle Cedric Thornton (hand) and linebackers Kiko Alonso (knee) and Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) didn’t play.

EAST RUTHERFORD – Once Eagles defensive back Chris Maragos departed Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium against the Jets with a knee contusion, it was obvious Jets head coach Todd Bowles saw something in the match up of rookie wide receiver Devin Smith against Eagles’ rookie defensive back Eric Rowe.