Injury Bug Bites Eagles After Healthy 2008 Season

The Eagles will be without starting linebacker Stewart Bradley for the season. He tore his ACL during the first week of training camp, leaving a big hole in the middle of their defense (particularly after safety Brian Dawkins wasn't re-signed).

Compounding matters: longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle to cancer and his replacement, 35-year-old Sean McDermott, is in his first year on the job. The Eagles have signed a couple warm bodies -- Matt Wilhelm and Jason Babin -- and second-year linebacker Joe Mays will also get a shot at replacing Bradley. (There was some speculation that Omar Gaither might get the nod but it looks like he'll remain the fourth linebacker, at least for now.)

If there's good news, it's this: Philly has the rest of the month to sort this out. The bad news: the Eagles' defense won't be nearly as dominant as it was in 2008. Partly because of Johnson's passing, partly because of McDermott's inexperience, but also due to luck. Via Football Outsiders' Twitter feed.

"Eagles had 2nd-healthiest D in football a year ago after being in mid-20s every year from 04-07. Will regress to mean this year."

And there's also this:

"By our measure, 20% or so of year-to-year change in wins is explained by injuries alone."

Which means that there will be more reliance on the offense this season. Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy will help, but, ultimately, it'll come down to Donovan McNabb. Because, well, it always does.