PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby suffered an ACL tear against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night and is done for the year, coach Doug Pederson said.
It's another blow to a 4-5 Eagles team that has been hit hard by injury following their Super Bowl run a season ago.
The secondary is already depleted with safety Rodney McLeod (knee) on injured reserve and cornerbacks Jalen Mills (foot) and Sidney Jones (hamstring) missing time.
Jones is expected to get some work at practice this week and "is close" to a return, per Pederson, while Mills is considered "a little further away." The Eagles will need all the healthy bodies they can get with a trip to New Orleans to take on the high-powered Saints coming up this week.
With a number of corners banged up, Rasul Douglas and rookie Chandon Sullivan could continue to have increased roles.
Darby, 24, has started 16 games for the Eagles since being acquired from the Buffalo Bills in the summer of 2017, and has four interceptions and 21 pass break-ups over that time. He rebounded from a dislocated ankle sustained in the 2017 opener to help Philly capture its first-ever Super Bowl title.
Darby's contract is up at the end of the season. As is the case with running back Jay Ajayi, Darby's ACL tear comes on the doorstep of free agency.
Once Darby is added, there will be nine Eagles on injured reserve. He joins Ajayi, McLeod, Derek Barnett, Mack Hollins, Elie Bouka, Richard Rodgers, Mike Wallace and Paul Worrilow on IR
