Skip to main content

Eagles C Kelce needs surgery for sports hernia

By WTOP Staff

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — For 17 weeks in 2013, Eagles coach Chip Kelly knew exactly who was on his offensive line, protecting quarterback Nick Foles and blocking for running back LeSean McCoy.

From left to right: Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans and Lane Johnson. None of the Eagles’ five starters missed a game.

Three weeks into the 2014 season and the Eagles’ offensive line doesn’t look anything like it was supposed to. The latest casualty is Kelce, who needs sports hernia surgery after getting hurt in the Eagles’ 37-34 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Kelly said Monday he did not know how long Kelce would be out, but the normal timetable is around eight weeks.

The season began with Johnson, the second-year right tackle, suspended for testing positive for a banned substance. He’ll miss his fourth game Sunday in San Francisco before being reinstated for the home matchup Oct. 5 against St. Louis.

Johnson’s replacement, Alan Barbre, broke his ankle in the opener against Jacksonville and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Mathis, the left guard, also hurt his knee against the Jaguars and was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return. He will miss at least six more weeks.

“I don’t have a level of concern,” Kelly said. “I just ask who’s available, and let’s play.”

Taking over at center for Kelce will be Chris Molk, a 2012 seventh-round pick of the San Diego Chargers out of Michigan who sat out all of 2013 after being released by the Chargers in the final cut.

“He’s a competitor,” Kelly said. “He gets off the ball and gets to the defender. He’ll fight you. The games he has played, he’s really competed.”

Molk filled in at guard for Mathis in the opener and then replaced Kelce at center Sunday.

“Molk is smart,” Kelly said. “We didn’t have any issues (with the play call) when Molk went into the game. He’s not Jason. He doesn’t have Jason’s experience.”

This Sunday, the line will be Peters, Dennis Kelly, Molk, Herremans and Andrew Gardner.

Dennis Kelly started 10 games at right tackle for the Eagles in 2012 but didn’t play at all in Chip Kelly’s system last year. Gardner made the first two starts of his career the past two weeks. Molk’s first career start will come Sunday.

The Eagles’ backups are veteran guard Wade Smith, who was signed two weeks ago after being released by Seattle, and tackle Matt Tobin, who has been bothered by a sprained ankle. Kelly said Smith could also play center and would get reps there this week in practice.

“When the first guy’s down the second guy has to take over,” Kelly said. “Just tell us who’s available to play.”

NOTES: Kelly said he talked with CB Cary Williams, who criticized the team’s practice routine after Sunday’s game. “I have no issue with Cary,” the coach said. “He was frustrated and I understand that. He wants to be perfect. He’s a competitor.” . Linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who missed the Washington game with a calf injury, is still day to day. . First-round draft pick Marcus Smith saw his first action Sunday and played 16 snaps at inside linebacker. . The Eagles have scored 101 points in three games; 74 have come in the second half and 40 in the fourth quarter.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote