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Eagles could be without top defender Kendricks

By WTOP Staff

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles could be without their top defensive playmaker as they face a team coming off a 41-point output last week.

Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who suffered a calf injury in last Monday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, missed practice for the second straight day, Thursday, in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.

“Right now he’s very doubtful for today, actually he’s out today,” Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said before Thursday’s practice. “We’ll see how he does Friday and Saturday.”

Kendricks had a MRI taken this week, but Kelly said he did not have the results.

“I don’t know,” Kelly said. “I don’t ask. Can we get this out of the way? I’m never going to ask. I don’t care. Just tell me if they can play or can’t play. That’s all I ever ask. I’m not a doctor. So it’s grade 32. I don’t know what that means. You don’t know what that means. Just tell me if he can play or can’t play that’s the conversation I have with (trainer) Chris Peduzzi and Dr. (Peter) DeLuca.”

Kendricks injured his calf late in the third quarter of Monday night’s game on a 2nd-and-8 play from the Colts 34 on the drive that led to Indianapolis taking a 27-20 lead. He did not return.

The Eagles came back to win, 30-27, on a final second field goal from Cody Parkey.

Kendrick’s absence would create a hole in an Eagles defense that has struggled in the first half of both of its wins, but played better in the second half.

Washington, which rolled up 41 points last week against Jacksonville, will test the Eagles’ defense with a balanced offense behind quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Alfred Morris.

“I think Mychal has just been a continuation of last year’s improvement,” Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis said Wednesday. “I think you saw Mychal get better and better. We talk about it often with his understanding of the defense. He’s been highly productive in the first two games we’ve had. So I think he’s on an ascent and still is. He’s an ascending player.”

Last year, his first in Davis’ 3-4 scheme, Kendricks was second on the team in tackles with 137. He also had four quarterback sacks, six quarterback hurries, a team-high three interceptions and a team-high four fumble recoveries.

In the first two games this year, Kendricks leads the Eagles in tackles with 13, has one of the team’s three sacks and three of the team’s five quarterback hurries. If he cannot go Sunday, he’ll be replaced by either Casey Matthews or Emmanuel Acho.

Matthews immediately replaced Kendrick during the Colts’ game, but Acho then replaced Matthews on the Colts’ final drive.

Both backup linebackers have been splitting time with the first unit in practice Wednesday and Thursday.

Davis said the two are basically equal.

“We have complete confidence in both of them,” the coordinator said. “We’ll see how the week plays out, but it could be Casey or Acho, or a mix of both. They’re both very intelligent guys that can set our front. They understand the defense thoroughly. So very similar skill sets, not a lot of differences between them.”

Acho, 6-2, 240, has played in a total of seven games in his three-year career and has never started.

Matthews, 6-1, 245, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Eagles in 2011. He’s played in 50 games over his four years, including four starts as the middle linebacker in the team’s old 4-3 scheme.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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