Five Big-Picture Takeaways From Eagles Week 11 Loss to Buccaneers

Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate (84) catches an 8-yard touchdown catch against Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso (50) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. The Buccaneers defeated the Eagles, 45-17. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

1.) Kiko Alonso Probably Should Have Gotten Surgery

It seems like years ago that the Eagles beats were raving about what they had seen from linebacker Kiko Alonso during mini-camp, training camp, and preseason. The return on the LeSean McCoy trade was supposed to serve as the playmaking linebacker for the Eagles defense for the next decade. Even after a concussion suffered during one of the team’s training camp practices at Lincoln Financial Field, Alonso provided the highlight of the season opener with his remarkable interception of Matt Ryan in the team’s week one loss to Atlanta.

Alonso was forced to leave the Eagles’ week two loss against the Cowboys with a knee injury. The 3rd year pro out of Oregon was faced with the option of having season-ending surgery for the second straight year, or rehabbing the ligament and returning to action in 2015. While one cannot necessarily get on Alonso for choosing not to resort himself to a painful surgery and arduous recovery, his decision to opt against the procedure is not doing the Eagles defense any favors. Alonso is invisible on the field and teams are suddenly running the ball through the Philadelphia defense like a hot knife through butter

Those watching the game see Alonso constantly getting taken out of the play by opposing blockers and failing to diagnose and react to what the opposition is doing on offense. Making matters worse is that, in some instances, Chip Kelly allowed Alonso to play ahead of Mychal Kendricks. Having two linebackers with the types of physical limitations that Alonso and DeMeco Ryans are currently dealing with is basically an open invitation for a team to try to run the football. The Buccaneers were able to neutralize the Eagles defensive line enough to get blockers to the second level enough to rack up big yards on the ground.

The Eagles are in a peculiar position with Alonso. He’s not under any sort of long-term contract, but he did come at a cost. He will likely need to have surgery on his knee at some point if he hopes to even approach the form he displayed in his 2013 Rookie of the Year campaign. It’s difficult to imagine the Eagles holding on to Alonso if he does opt for ACL surgery after his underwhelming showing to this point in 2015. One would think they prioritize Jordan Hicks and the recently-extended Kendricks as the LB corps of the future. It’s plain to see Alonso isn’t doing the Eagles any favors in 2015 and likely won’t for the foreseeable future.